Preventing and Reducing Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Care

In 2014, the United States Department of Education released the results of its 2012 Civil Rights Data Collection, which, for the first time included preschool data. The results showed that approximately 5,000 preschoolers were suspended at least once in 2012 and of those, nearly 2,500 were suspended a second time. In recognition of the importance of addressing suspension and expulsion, the US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services issued a Policy Statement on Expulsion and Suspension Policies in Early Childhood Settings in 2014 that provides recommendations to States and local early childhood programs to prevent and severely limit expulsions and suspensions in early learning settings.

DES is committed to supporting child care providers and caregivers to find the resources and support that are essential to ensuring access to quality child care for all children. In accordance with federal rule under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), the Department requires providers to utilize all supports to prevent suspension and expulsion of children from child care settings, and provides assistance through education, training and support mechanisms for parents and child care providers related to any issues that may lead to the suspension and/or expulsion of children in care.

• Arizona Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Policy
  Samples of the following documents are located at the end of the policy:
  
  • About Me Questionnaire
  • Action Plan
  • AZ STEPS Parent Service Consent
• Preventing Expulsion Resource & Highlights
• Expulsion Prevention Request Form
• Southwest Human Development Training and Support