A recent study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveals that a troubling number of preschool-aged children are being expelled from schools across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children typically start preschool between the ages of three and five, a critical period for their development.
James Rhodes, director of Children’s Outpatient Services at the Lakeview Center, highlights that these early years are essential for children’s growth. “Preschool is a key time for developing social and learning relationships,” says Rhodes.
Amy Vaughn, a school-based therapist in South Alabama for Altapointe Health, adds that children’s brains develop rapidly until around age five. “This is when they are learning the most,” she explains. “Language, communication, and emotions are all developing very quickly.”
However, a significant number of these young students are being expelled at a rate three times higher than children in K-12 grades. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that preschool boys are expelled four times as often as girls, with “challenging behavior” often being the reason. Rhodes refers to this as “emotional dysregulation,” which can include unsafe behaviors like tantrums, property destruction, or even physical aggression.
A 2017 report from the National Center on Early Childhood Development found that 10.4% of preschool teachers expelled at least one child in the previous year due to behavioral issues. The report also highlighted geographic variations, with Florida having four to seven expulsions per 1,000 preschoolers, and Alabama reporting over 10 expulsions per 1,000.
Rhodes notes that expulsions have become more common in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic, he suggests, has played a role by limiting children’s exposure to social interactions and classroom behaviors. “They missed out on essential socialization and structure,” Rhodes says, a sentiment echoed by Vaughn.
Experts recommend that parents maintain open communication with their child’s school and set a positive example when addressing conflicts. The Department of Health and Human Services also highlights racial disparities, noting that African American children are expelled almost twice as often as Latino and white children.
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