Exclusionary practices in early care and education settings, such as expulsion and suspension, harm children and disproportionately affect children of color, children with disabilities, and boys. This project explores opportunities, strategies, and current state efforts to reduce these harms through policies and investments that help prevent exclusionary practices in early care and education settings. A 50-state survey identified suspension and expulsion prevention policies, as well as important program supports such as infant-early childhood mental health consultation and coaching. State surveys have examined early care and education teachers’ experiences of children’s challenging behavior. This project also offers technical assistance to states to promote effective policies and supports for ECE programs that reduce the use of exclusionary practices and strengthen program supports for young children’s social-emotional development and well-being. Several project activities have been conducted in partnership with the BUILD initiative.
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Sheila Smith, PhD
sheila.smith@nccp.org