A new partnership between federal and local agencies and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) aims to tackle the growing dangers children face in online spaces. Announced on November 22, 2024, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) brings together the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and LAUSD to provide cyber safety training for students, staff, and parents.

The initiative comes as part of a broader effort to combat child sexual exploitation and to educate young people on navigating digital environments safely. LAUSD, the largest public school system in California and the second-largest in the nation, serves over 600,000 students across more than 1,000 schools.

Expanding Cyber Safety Education

The program, which will include age-appropriate training sessions, will focus on educating preteens and teenagers about online sexual dangers. It will also be adaptable to younger children, school staff, and parents. The sessions are part of a collaborative effort to foster safer online environments, integrating resources and guidance tailored to the specific needs of the LAUSD community.

“Nothing is more important than protecting and uplifting our children,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We are proud to team up with LAUSD and HSI to educate more young people about the dangers posed by the internet and social media and encourage students to pursue higher education – after all, knowledge is power.”

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho emphasized the significance of the initiative in promoting safe digital practices. “Our students need to be aware of online dangers in order to be protected and empowered to make informed decisions and maintain their safety while navigating the digital world,” Carvalho said. “This partnership will enhance our Every School Safe Module on Cyber Safety to promote a secure learning environment.”

Leveraging Federal Expertise

The program will draw heavily on HSI’s expertise in investigating online crimes against children, including resources from its Project iGuardian initiative. Revamped earlier this year, Project iGuardian is part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect campaign, which aims to raise awareness about online child sexual exploitation and provide safety tools and resources for children and parents.

“HSI has been at the forefront of investigating online crimes against children,” said Eddy Wang, HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge. “This partnership with LAUSD and DOJ is taking a proactive approach to educating students and trusted adults about the dangers our children face online.”

HSI Los Angeles agents, primarily from the Child Exploitation Investigations Group, will deliver the trainings. Supervisory Special Agent Jaclyn Jacobson and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eugene Villanueva will oversee these efforts, bringing localized expertise to the program.

Supporting National Initiatives

The initiative also aligns with the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood program, which was launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation through high-impact prosecutions and community outreach. “This strategic partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations developed out of the need to ensure that our students, staff, and parents are educated on the latest and most effective online safety practices,” said Dr. Alfonzo Webb, LAUSD Senior Director of Climate Culture.

The collaboration exemplifies the MOU’s goal of combining federal, state, and local resources to create a comprehensive strategy for addressing online risks.

For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc. Additional resources for cyber safety, including training information, are available on the Know2Protect website.