San Diego Unified takes stand against human trafficking with new student protections
Article written by Elizabeth Ireland for Times of San Diego
The average age a child enters the underground commercial sex economy is 16, and many remain trapped in it for more than a decade, according to San Diego County education officials.
But the San Diego Unified School District is determined to change that trajectory.
The district recently announced sweeping new protections for students vulnerable to human trafficking, including updated reporting protocols and a formal partnership with a nonprofit, San Diego Youth Services. The changes represent what may be the nation’s most comprehensive district-level response to an issue that has long operated in the shadows.
At the helm is Farshad Talebi, executive director of the district’s Investigations, Compliance and Accountability Department. Talebi is a former prosecutor and national anti-trafficking leader with a decade-plus track record of dismantling exploitation networks.
Talebi believes districts are uniquely positioned for early intervention because they are often the first to see warning signs.
“Our goal is to make sure once awareness is raised, there’s a clear plan in place,” Talebi said. “If a student reaches out or a red flag is identified, we know exactly what to do next.”
The new initiative establishes a centralized online reporting system for students, families and staff to submit concerns. Specially trained district investigators and school police review reports, referring cases as needed to the California Department of Justice-backed county Human Trafficking Task Force — a crucial resource in one of the nation’s busiest trafficking corridors.
Continue reading entire article in Times of San Diego: https://timesofsandiego.com/education/2026/03/09/san-diego-unified-human-trafficking-student-protections/