{"id":63966,"date":"2026-07-30T20:16:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T20:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/?post_type=first-things&p=63966"},"modified":"2026-07-30T20:35:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T20:35:18","slug":"preventing-preschool-expulsion","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/es\/first-things\/preventing-preschool-expulsion\/","title":{"rendered":"Preventing preschool expulsion: A guide for Arizona families"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parents do not expect a preschooler to be suspended or expelled. But it happens more often than many families realize. In fact, according to healthychildren.org<\/a>, expulsion rates are nearly three times higher in preschool than in K-12 schools.<\/p>\n

For Arizona families, understanding why this happens is an important step toward helping children succeed in early learning settings.<\/p>\n

The good news is that expulsion is often preventable when families and providers work together.<\/p>\n

What preschool expulsion really means<\/span><\/h1>\n

Many parents think expulsion means a child has failed. That is not true.<\/p>\n

Most preschool expulsions happen because a program may not have the tools or support to meet a child\u2019s needs. In early learning settings, removal can take different forms. Suspension may mean a child is temporarily asked to stay home. \u201cSoft expulsion\u201d can include being asked to leave early, attend fewer hours or find alternative care. These practices can disrupt a child\u2019s learning and sense of stability.<\/p>\n

Behaviors like biting, hitting or tantrums are common in early childhood. These moments are part of development, not signs that a child should be removed from care.<\/p>\n

Managing Big Feelings<\/p>\n

Find expert insight about hitting, biting, sharing and tantrums from an infant and early childhood mental health specialist, Tiffany Stenson, MC, IMH-E.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/p>\n

This should be a signal that more support and understanding are needed. Instead of punishment, these situations often call for stronger communication and new strategies to help children learn skills over time\u2014both at home and with the child care provider. Viewing these as opportunities for growth shifts the focus from blame to building skills together.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re concerned, review the Arizona Department of Economic Security\u2019s Challenging Behavior and Social Emotional Support guide<\/a> to learn warning signs of suspension or expulsion and find support resources.<\/p>\n

What the research reveals<\/span><\/h1>\n

Research shows that expulsion does not affect all children equally. Researchers found<\/a> that some children received more complaints and discipline concerns from child care providers based on race or socio-economic status, even when their behavior is similar to other children in the study.<\/p>\n

The study also found that children who received more negative feedback in preschool were more likely to have lower school engagement and lower test scores later in elementary school. These findings show the importance of creating fair discipline practices in early childhood programs.<\/p>\n

Experts also say preschool expulsion is often connected to larger issues, including teacher stress, large class sizes and limited access to support services.<\/p>\n

Support for providers makes a difference<\/span><\/h1>\n

Experts agree that support and strong relationships play a key role in preventing preschool expulsion.<\/p>\n

When teachers have access to mental health consultants, coaching and training, they are better prepared to respond to challenging behaviors in positive ways. Research from the Children\u2019s Institute<\/a> shows these supports can reduce expulsion rates for all children while helping to build stronger social and emotional skills.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why First Things First partners with child care providers across Arizona through our Quality First program. Quality First helps programs improve the quality of their care by unlocking resources for childcare providers to better support children\u2019s social and emotional development. These supports help providers respond to challenging behaviors in positive, effective ways to reduce the likelihood of preschool expulsion.<\/p>\n

Preventing expulsion in preschool: Why it matters and what we can do<\/p>\n

Read the blog<\/p>\n

Strong partnerships between parents and teachers also matter. Early childhood expert Dr. Walter Gilliam shared,<\/p>\n

Seek support early before challenges grow through programs like AZ STEPS<\/a>, which helps child care providers and families address challenging behaviors before they lead to suspension or expulsion.<\/p>\n

Working together with providers<\/span><\/h1>\n

When families and providers work together, children are more likely to stay in preschool and continue building important early learning skills.<\/p>\n

Families can start early by:<\/p>\n