💭 Thoughts on this complicated topic?
At least 29 states have policies restricting or eliminating exclusionary discipline, and a 2016 national survey found that 17,000 3- and 4-year-olds had been expelled in the previous year, Jenny Gold reports.
https://lat.ms/3Tiba5w
@KidsData Why are we sending 3 and 4 year olds to school in the first place? @edutooters
@DataGeekB Day care so that children can learn to play and socialize. Four years old is plenty soon to start actual school. @KidsData @edutooters
@AlliFlowers @KidsData @edutooters
Ah! Two clarifications are in order, then.
The article is talking about 4 year olds (and, yes, 3 year olds, too).
While the article often uses the term preschool, the law is for "child care centers." At age 3 (and often at 4) the institution might be called "preschool" but tends to look and function like daycare. I've seen "daycares" that start worksheets at age 3 (eww). The lines btwn daycare/preschool aren't always crisp, but effects of suspension are.
@DataGeekB Four year olds are another story. They mostly need behavior prep before starting school. Three year olds should not be in Pre-K. @KidsData @edutooters
@AlliFlowers @KidsData @edutooters I can think of at least 2 reasons why children would be in preschool: Working parents and that high quality preschool (like Head Start) has repeatedly been found to be beneficial for children. What alternative would you propose?