Suspension and Expulsion: FAQs
Find answers to common questions about suspension and expulsion in infant and toddler settings.
Suspension and Expulsion
These resources support preventing suspensions and expulsions in center-based Head Start programs. Suspensions and expulsions of young children are not developmentally appropriate practices, yet according to recent data, they occur regularly in early childhood settings. These exclusionary practices disproportionately impact children of color, deprive children of valuable learning experiences, and have a negative impact on children’s development that extends into grade school and beyond.
Preventing Suspension and Expulsion
Find guidance around effective practices and regulations that require programs to severely limit or prohibit the suspension and expulsion of all enrolled children.
Preventing and Reducing Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Care and Education Settings
In this compilation, find resources that can help staff promote the mental health and social and emotional well-being of young children and reduce expulsions in early childhood programs.
Preschool Expulsions and Suspensions, and Why We Should Care
Explore disparities in access to high-quality care and education and how we can address them.
Understanding and Eliminating Expulsion in Early Childhood Programs
Nationwide, early childhood programs are being encouraged to implement policies to reduce and eliminate preschool expulsion.
1302.45 Supports for mental health and well-being.
Head Start programs must use a multidisciplinary approach to support a program-wide culture that promotes children’s mental health, social and emotional well-being, and overall health and safety.
1302.17 Suspension and expulsion.
This standard clearly prohibits the expulsion of children from Head Start programs and sets strict limitations on the use of temporary suspension.
Policy Statement on Expulsion and Suspension Policies in Early Childhood Settings
The purpose of this policy statement is to support families, early childhood programs, and states by providing recommendations from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education for preventing and severely limiting expulsion and suspension practices in early childhood settings.