Preschool Expulsion & Suspension Report

There is a strong body of research that demonstrates the lifelong, devastating effects of early childhood education (ECE) suspension and expulsion on infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, as well as its inequitable impact on Black, Indigenous, and other people/children of color (BIPOC). Throughout the past five years, many advocates have shared research, highlighted best practices, and issued policy statements and recommendations in efforts to guide ECE leaders and policymakers in stopping this epidemic of ECE suspensions and expulsions. The Alliance Policy & Systems Development workgroup and its briefing paper subgroup developed a tool in support of AIMHs advocacy work around suspension and expulsion in early childhood education settings. It is imperative to point out this universal conclusion: an ECE workforce trained in infant and early childhood mental health is essential to ending ECE suspensions and expulsions.

Enhance your advocacy efforts! Check out our Training HUB to access a free 1.5 hour webinar about using this tool to inform a strengths-based, systems approach to framing the issue of suspension and expulsion.

Resources

• Build Initiative and National Center on Child Poverty. States’ Growing Commitment to Preventing Young Children’s Expulsion from Early Care and Education Programs: RESULTS OF A 50-STATE POLICY SURVEY Available at: https://buildinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/States-Growing-Commitment-to-Preventing-Young-Childrens-Expulsion-from-ECE-Programs.pdf

• Center of Excellence on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. Overview of the IECMHC Approach within the Early Childhood System. Available at: https://www.iecmhc.org/documents/overview-iecmhc-approach-within-early-childhood-system.pdf

• Children’s Institute- an interview with Dr. Walter Gilliam on preschool expulsion and bias https://childinst.org/an-interview-with-dr-walter-gilliam/

• Defining Disprorportionate Discipline: Understanding Common Measure:https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu

• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. Developing Policy and Guidance on Suspension and Expulsion in Early Childhood Programs. Available at: https://ectacenter.org/topics/expulsion/policyguidance.asp

• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood (web compendium of resources). Available at: https://ectacenter.org/topics/expulsion/expulsion.asp

• Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/understanding-eliminating-expulsion-early-childhood-programs#:~:text=Preschoolers%20are%20expelled%20at%20three,be%20expelled%20as%20girls%20are.

• Institute for Child Success https://www.instituteforchildsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ICS-2018-PreschoolSuspensionBrief-WEB.pdf

• Institute for Research & Poverty: A working framework for research-informed legislation prohibiting preschool expulsion and suspension: https://www.dropbox.com/s/otzgyx94crs8jun/Policy%20against%20preschool-%20expulsion%20A-Working-Framework.pdf?dl=0

• Integrated Behavioral Health for Preschool Children in Pediatric Primary Care: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ezwyz3wuzdl9il8/Yogman2021_Article_IntegratedBehavioralHealthForP%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0

• International Research in Early Childhood Education: Preschool teachers’ responses to challenging behavior: The role of organizational climate in referrals and expulsions: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x331fmbjwflx3op/Preschool%20expulsion.pdf?dl=0

• Meek, S. E., and W. S. Gilliam. 2016. Expulsion and Suspension in Early Education as Matters of Social Justice and Health Equity. NAM Perspectives. Discussion Paper, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.31478/201610e

• NAEYC https://www.naeyc.org/standing-together-against-suspension-expulsion-early-childhood-resources

• National Black Child Development Institute: https://www.nbcdi.org/

• Paradis, N., Johnson, K., & Richardson, Z. (2021). The Value of Reflective Supervision/Consultation in Early Childhood Education. ZERO TO THREE Journal, 41(3), 68-75. https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3917-the-value-of-reflective-supervision-consultation-in-early-childhood-education

• US Department of Health and Human Services. Reducing Suspension and Expulsion Practices in Early Childhood Settings. Numerous resources, including guidance, state best practices, and webinars available at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/child-health-development/reducing-suspension-and-expulsion-practices

• Yale Child Study Center: Do Early Educators’ Implicit Biases Regarding Sex and Race Relate to Behavior Expectation and Recommendations of Preschool Expulsions and Suspensions? https://www.dropbox.com/s/dq466e1yy1x8u8b/-Preschool-Implicit-Bias-Policy-Brief.pdf?dl=0

• Yale School of Medicine: Stressed Out Children, Families, and Early Childhood Teachers: How Mental Health Support Is Essential to Reopening America: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o3334h4tn4w2c3f/Yale-Presentation%20MHC.pdf?dl=0

• ZERO TO THREE. Prevention Expulsion from Preschool and Child Care. Numerous resources available at: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/preventing-expulsion-from-preschool-and-child-care

Contributors

• Cara Clark, Tennessee

• Stephanie David, JD, MPH, IMH-E®, New York

• Susan Dickstein, PhD.,IMH-E®, Rhode Island

• Vickie Harden, Ph.D., LAPSW, Tennessee

• Harleen Hutchinson, Psy.D., IECMH-E®-Florida

• Dianne Jandrasits, PsyD, ECMH-E®, Pennsylvania

• Isabelle Lopez, Tennessee

• Lana Nenide, MS, IMH-E®, Wisconsin

• Nichole Paradis, LMSW, IMH-E®, Michigan

• Rhonda Rairden-Nelson, B.S., IMH-E®, Iowa

• Kimberly Renk, Ph.D., IMH-E®, Florida

• Pamela Segel, Ed.S., IMH-E®, New Mexico

• Jayne Singer, Ph.D. IECMH-E®, Massachusetts

• Aditi Subramaniam, LMHC, R-DMT, IECMH-E®, Massachusetts

• Angela Webster, MSW, IMH-E®, Tennessee

• Phyllis Vernon, M.Ed., Idaho