Developing Policy on Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion

[Josiegirl]

I haven't read all that has been posted but do you think different things should be expected from different childcare settings? A family child care; mine can only have 6 FT dcks, and it's just me flying solo. I would have no time or energy to safely handle a severe problem child and I would definitely have to terminate. Besides, I feel it's my own home and business and I have every right.
The government already steps into our lives at a high rate of invasion, forcing us to spend more money/time/effort on ridiculous expectations. I'm not saying supporting difficult children is a ridiculous expectation but there is only so much one person can do.
There has GOT to be some requirements and expectations placed on children's most important influence in their lives and that is their parents. Is it just easier or is it all the funding states get for programs, that causes more restrictions on child care and schooling? I would NOT want to be a teacher in a public school system. I live in a very small town, maybe 6-7K, and even our town has a lot of problems. I can't imagine what city schools would be like.
Stop blaming poor child care or schools on children's poor performance and behavioral problems. Stop entitling children from day 1 and expecting nothing out of them. Expect respect from them, give them consequences, stop thinking every dang thing they do is cute, act like respectable adults around them. Feed them better quality foods and develop good sleep schedules!!

[Pepperth]

I haven't read all that has been posted but do you think different things should be expected from different childcare settings? A family child care; mine can only have 6 FT dcks, and it's just me flying solo. I would have no time or energy to safely handle a severe problem child and I would definitely have to terminate. Besides, I feel it's my own home and business and I have every right.
The government already steps into our lives at a high rate of invasion, forcing us to spend more money/time/effort on ridiculous expectations. I'm not saying supporting difficult children is a ridiculous expectation but there is only so much one person can do.
There has GOT to be some requirements and expectations placed on children's most important influence in their lives and that is their parents. Is it just easier or is it all the funding states get for programs, that causes more restrictions on child care and schooling? I would NOT want to be a teacher in a public school system. I live in a very small town, maybe 6-7K, and even our town has a lot of problems. I can't imagine what city schools would be like.
Stop blaming poor child care or schools on children's poor performance and behavioral problems. Stop entitling children from day 1 and expecting nothing out of them. Expect respect from them, give them consequences, stop thinking every dang thing they do is cute, act like respectable adults around them. Feed them better quality foods and develop good sleep schedules!!

I agree with this 100%. Obviously this would work better in a school system type of setting, where support staff is possible. (which is probably the whole point of the thing anyway.) I wish whoever sets these regulations would realize that expulsion is my last choice as a small business owner, and the situation where it happens would be well thought out. Its not an option I've used yet (only been open for a few years) but I need that option open for the safety and well-being of all my clients.

From an attachment standpoint, I feel that having a consistant caregiver is very important for a child, especially those who may need extra support. It has to start at the home level though.

[Annalee]

Personally, I think someone sits atop their office building at their desk just trying to think of things to throw in and stir the pot to force more Family/Group providers to QUIT! And the funny thing is, this so-called powerful human being REALLY believes the unlicensed providers are NOT doing child care anymore:confused:

[daycarediva]

Further reading: https://www.zerotothree.org/document/908

"Who is most likely to be expelled?
 Four-year-olds are expelled at a rate about 50 percent greater than three-year-olds.
 Boys are expelled at a rate more than 4.5 times that of girls.
 African-American children are about twice as likely to be expelled as Latino and Caucasian children, and more than five times as likely to be expelled as Asian-American children.iv"

"For the first time, the federal Office of Civil Rights (OCR) collected data from all public schools nationally in 2011-2012, and released findings in the Civil Rights Data Collection, Data Snapshot: Early Childhood Education in a March 2014 report.ix This data indicated that “Black children make up 18% of preschool enrollment, but 48% of preschool children suspended more than once. Boys receive more than three out of four out-of-school preschool suspensions.” (Page 3) While preschool girls who are black are also more likely to experience “out-of-school” suspension, this data collection did not find that preschool children learning English or children with disabilities were any more likely to be suspended than other children.
This data has limitations in terms of interpreting the magnitude of the problem because it only surveyed school programs and many more preschool children are served in community based settings."

"In response to OCR data, and with growing concerns expressed by families, teachers and other stakeholders, in 2016 the US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services released a joint policy statement to raise awareness about expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary discipline practices in early childhood settings, including issues of racial/national origin/ethnic and gender disparities and negative outcomes for children associated with expulsion and suspension in the early years, and provide the field with recommendations to limit suspension and expulsion in early childhood.xi"

I'll be the one to say it- and I'm sure I could find studies to back me up. AA children are more likely to be from one parent, low income households. I lived in the area and had very low income, primarily minority daycare before we moved. The parents are rarely involved, they believe a child hitting another is justified. I dealt with drugs (needles in car seats?) parents incarcerated and much more. There were exceptions to the rule, of course. One of my best behaved children of all time- with an amazing supportive family- was AA.

Again, back to parental responsibility. There may be a bias at play as well, but working in that atmosphere first hand, I can tell you it was NOT my bias, but observations on parent involvement, children's behavior/consequences, and home lives play a major role in suspensions/expulsions as well.

[Cat Herder]

I'll be the one to say it- and I'm sure I could find studies to back me up. AA children are more likely to be from one parent, low income households. I lived in the area and had very low income, primarily minority daycare before we moved. The parents are rarely involved, they believe a child hitting another is justified. I dealt with drugs (needles in car seats?) parents incarcerated and much more. There were exceptions to the rule, of course.

I understand what you are saying. In my local area, it is the opposite. Our community has been ravaged by meth, heroin and pill mills. It is very inconsistent based on where programs are located. I wonder if the studies account for that?

[daycarediva]

I understand what you are saying. In my local area, it is the opposite. Our community has been ravaged by meth, heroin and pill mills. It is very inconsistent based on where programs are located. I wonder if the studies account for that?

I have never read a study that did account for it. I would be interested to see if economic status affected expulsion rates more than race or even gender.

Where my mom teaches is similar to what you're saying. It's a primarily white community, over 80% below the poverty level, lots of heroin and meth. Something close to half of the students in her school receive some level of additional intervention, behavioral or academic. There are so many expulsions in our county, that several school districts got together and organized a special program for these students to continue attending school. All are bused to a different district and attend a program for at risk youth. It goes from UPK-12th now, too. I wonder if I could find demographic information for the program. There are so many factors at play with education and behavior, that I think it's impossible to attribute to any one issue, but I know it starts in the home.

[Blackcat31]

I have never read a study that did account for it. I would be interested to see if economic status affected expulsion rates more than race or even gender.

Where my mom teaches is similar to what you're saying. It's a primarily white community, over 80% below the poverty level, lots of heroin and meth. Something close to half of the students in her school receive some level of additional intervention, behavioral or academic. There are so many expulsions in our county, that several school districts got together and organized a special program for these students to continue attending school. All are bused to a different district and attend a program for at risk youth. It goes from UPK-12th now, too. I wonder if I could find demographic information for the program. There are so many factors at play with education and behavior, that I think it's impossible to attribute to any one issue, but I know it starts in the home.

This is a topic of discussion/concern in my area.
But not necessarily expulsion rates but absenteeism.

Race and poverty is being discussed in regards to whether or not they impact chronic absenteeism.

Well off parts of the community in comparison to the poor areas is also discussed...

Of course, the automatic solution is money.
The poorer districts and those with the most diversity are calling for more funding to address this issue and stop kids from chronic absences.

But no one will point out that the chronic absenteeism is happening the same in both the poor and better off areas.

Also I am not understanding HOW exactly will fix this? :confused:

[Cat Herder]

Also I am not understanding HOW exactly will fix this? :confused:

I guess if we can't kick them out and truancy officers are still a thing, they believe they have solved it?

While creating new State job titles to over see us all. Does that count as a politicians perk?:confused:

[Mom2Two]

I've been reading lately (in the newspaper, sorry I don't have the links handy and we're heading outside now) that there's a big difference in marriage/parenthood rates between the educated/more affluent and lower education/income. Pretty much the educated/better income folk wait to have children until after marriage but not so much the less ed/lower income. So the more vulnerable are attempting parenthood on their own or in less stable situations.

Looking at the why, I've been reading things like that the men just aren't that appealing to the women and so marriage isn't as appealing.

There's so much data on single motherhood corresponding/causing poverty. It makes me mad. I feel like the powerful and influential completely ignore the importance of a restrained lifestyle and are selling out the most vulnerable members of society.

I realize that my feelings aren't popular with everyone and are probably considered very old-fashioned. But the data seems to back me up.

[Ariana]

Black males make up about 12-13% of the population but nearly 40% of the men in jail and prison. It makes sense that this kind of thing starts earlier in daycares.

Every watch the documentary called The 13th? It is great for shedding light on this topic.

[daycarediva]

I've been reading lately (in the newspaper, sorry I don't have the links handy and we're heading outside now) that there's a big difference in marriage/parenthood rates between the educated/more affluent and lower education/income. Pretty much the educated/better income folk wait to have children until after marriage but not so much the less ed/lower income. So the more vulnerable are attempting parenthood on their own or in less stable situations.

Looking at the why, I've been reading things like that the men just aren't that appealing to the women and so marriage isn't as appealing.

There's so much data on single motherhood corresponding/causing poverty. It makes me mad. I feel like the powerful and influential completely ignore the importance of a restrained lifestyle and are selling out the most vulnerable members of society.

I realize that my feelings aren't popular with everyone and are probably considered very old-fashioned. But the data seems to back me up.

I'm pretty old school myself, but children from two parent households statistically have better outcomes. I hear what you're saying.

[Annalee]

I'm pretty old school myself, but children from two parent households statistically have better outcomes. I hear what you're saying.

I agree with this! Maybe not always but two-parent households generally have the best outcome. And I am old-school....to the point, the old commercial that says the family that eats one meal together each day has a better chance of developing a positive relationship with each other. We have two meals everyday sitting at the table together with NO cell phones....breakfast and supper Too many families live on the run from one activity to another....My sons play sports but we crockpot or eat something together at the same time if it is only a sandwich. I don't see this changing soon because too many kids today don't even know who will pick them up or where they will spend the night or when they will eat. :confused:

[Ariana]

I've been reading lately (in the newspaper, sorry I don't have the links handy and we're heading outside now) that there's a big difference in marriage/parenthood rates between the educated/more affluent and lower education/income. Pretty much the educated/better income folk wait to have children until after marriage but not so much the less ed/lower income. So the more vulnerable are attempting parenthood on their own or in less stable situations.

This is what I have noticed as well when I worked at a centre. The families with subsidies had twice as many kids as the middle class families who did not qualify for subsidy. I personally know middle class parents who waited until their first child was in full time school before having a second child. It is sad that we pay for those subsidies with our taxes but cannot afford to have more kids ourselves.

We also had a woman work as an assistant in the centre who was a single mom living in a house with several roomates. She smoked a pack of cigarettes a day and her son had asthma. She was complaining one day about how she could not afford his asthma meds. I was considering paying for them myself because I felt bad for this sweet sweet boy. A few days later she came in and announced she was pregnant again with a big smile on her face! I was astounded. It was a big wakeup call for me.

[daycarediva]

I agree with this! Maybe not always but two-parent households generally have the best outcome. And I am old-school....to the point, the old commercial that says the family that eats one meal together each day has a better chance of developing a positive relationship with each other. We have two meals everyday sitting at the table together with NO cell phones....breakfast and supper Too many families live on the run from one activity to another....My sons play sports but we crockpot or eat something together at the same time if it is only a sandwich. I don't see this changing soon because too many kids today don't even know who will pick them up or where they will spend the night or when they will eat. :confused:

YES! We eat breakfast together and dinner together, too. The 'family dinners' are a thing of the past, sadly.

[Blackcat31]

This is a topic of discussion/concern in my area.
But not necessarily expulsion rates but absenteeism.

Race and poverty is being discussed in regards to whether or not they impact chronic absenteeism.

Well off parts of the community in comparison to the poor areas is also discussed...

Of course, the automatic solution is money.
The poorer districts and those with the most diversity are calling for more funding to address this issue and stop kids from chronic absences.

But no one will point out that the chronic absenteeism is happening the same in both the poor and better off areas.

Also I am not understanding HOW exactly will fix this? :confused:

I forgot to add the link to what I was referencing

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/education/4270780-duluth-school-district-struggles-chronic-absenteeism