Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Ending school suspensions for 4, 5, 6, and 7-year olds

    Posted 09-03-2021 12:11 AM
    I am working on ending school suspensions for 4, 5, 6, and 7-year-olds, except for the possession of a gun, drugs, or a violent assault in New Hanover County in Wilmington, NC.

    Is anyone else working on that issue in their community?




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    Peter Rawitsch
    Wilmington NC
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  • 2.  RE: Ending school suspensions for 4, 5, 6, and 7-year olds

    Posted 09-04-2021 09:53 AM
    Peter,

    I can share resources I learned about from Promise Venture Studio, which supports innovation in early childhood. Kidango, an EC network in CA, has a program to intervene with mental health counseling and family supports for young children whose challenging behaviors can't be addressed with the resources of regular classrooms. They are working with Dr. Walter Gilliam of Yale School of Medicine who has done research on early childhood and intervention policies. As you well know, there is so much that can be done with teacher training and support to reduce exclusions. It is also so important for teachers to feel empowered to advocate for more resources for the child and family in question, while remaining a fierce advocate for the safety and growth of the other children in their care. 

    Hope this is helpful -- best wishes as you address this challenging topic! Too many K-12 teachers work with children whose behaviors were calling out for help and intervention in their preschool years.

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    Jane Lonnquist
    --None--
    Edina, MN
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