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

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