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New Brief contains resources and policies to help early educators focus attention directly on racial disparities in disciplinary practices
Every child deserves the chance to participate in early learning programs that affirm who they are, and help them prepare for success in Kindergarten and elementary school. However, expulsions from early childhood programs undermine this goal – especially for children who are Black, boys, and/or who have a disability. Research finds that differences in children’s behavior do not explain these disparities, and also that “exclusionary discipline” does not improve behavior – in fact it makes racial and socioeconomic disparities worse. So how can early educators address these challenges head-on, so that every child gets the opportunity to thrive in early learning environments?
Specific policy interventions can narrow disparities by race
Our earlier briefs in this series have examined classroom practices, external supports, and public policies aimed at reducing exclusionary discipline. While implementing broad policies can help to improve outcomes for all students, they may fall short in their power to meaningfully change some of the everyday practices that contribute to the disproportionate use of expulsions by race in particular.
There are many resources available to policy-makers who seek to address racial disparities in early care and education. For example, the Children’s Equity Project provides a list of 14 Priorities to Dismantle Systemic Racism in Early Care and Education. This brief further explores policy and funding interventions, as well as data tracking and monitoring, that can reduce racial disparities in the early care and education setting.
Cultivating inclusive early learning environments
Early educators regularly seek professional development to improve their interactions with young children in order to improve outcomes. Unconscious racial biases play an important role in how adults of all backgrounds respond to children. Engaging families and communities in creating nurturing and justice-oriented learning environments can help to reduce these unconscious racial biases.
Strong bonds between child care & early learning providers and the communities they serve can help to build a more inclusive environment that affirms Black children, as well as children of all races and backgrounds. Early learning and care center administrators can engage with parents, and encourage parents to become involved in education advocacy.
Here are four meaningful steps that early learning & care administrators can take to build more inclusive learning environments
- Equip staff and educators with the facts about racial disparities, nationally, in the state, and in their own centers;
- Model and encourage self-reflection;
- Coach staff and educators to help them incorporate new information on the effects of implicit biases into how they interact with children and manage behavior; and
- Center coaching meetings on culturally-responsive practices, and eliminating disparities in outcomes.
Read the full brief here, and download previous policy briefs on the End Early Learning Exclusion webpage.
Read all the blog posts in this series:
- Exclusion from care and learning environments is not the answer
- Offer Supportive Responses for Children’s Challenging Behaviors
- Building Effective Reporting Systems to Prevent and Reduce Early Exclusion
- Strengthen the Capacity of Early Care and Learning Educators to Eliminate Exclusion
- Increasing funding for child mental health programs is key o Reducing Preschool Expulsions
About NCECF
The NC Early Childhood Foundation builds understanding, leads collaboration, and advances policies to ensure each North Carolina child is on track for lifelong success. Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter to learn how you can help transform the lives of North Carolina families.