Helpful Resources

If you are visiting this site, you probably have some questions or concerns about a child in your care. We hope that you find some ideas and supportive strategies on this page. Your role in supporting the child behind the behavior is so vital to the long-term outcomes and well-being of that child. Be sure that you are taking care of yourself and the other staff who are working with the child. Some of the links will provide ideas for supporting the adults, many of the links lead to strategies, forms, or other information.

So what is Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood Programs?

While there are multiple definitions of the terms, this site uses the following definitions:

  • Expulsion: Permanent dismissal of a child from a program in response to a child’s behavior.
    • Programs shall not persuade or encourage a child’s parents or legal guardians to voluntarily unenroll from the program due to a child’s behavior.
  • Suspension (also known as “out-of-school suspension”): Any removal of a child from all or part of the program day, or the prevention of a child from attending the program for one or more days, in response to the child’s behavior.
    • Programs shall not encourage or persuade a child’s parents or legal guardians to prematurely pick up a child due to a child’s behavior before the program day ends.
      • Definitions from AB 2806 (Rubio) – Suspension and Expulsion in Early Learning
  • In-school suspension: Sending the child out of the classroom to the “office” or another classroom for a significant portion of the day (over 25% of the time the child is in school).

With the 2017 passage of Assembly Bill 752, California State Preschool Programs were directed to pursue and document reasonable steps prior to expelling or disenrolling a child. In 2022, Assembly Bill 2806 was passed that prohibits suspension and expulsion in state preschool and childcare programs, unless specific steps are taken. This bill also strengthens early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) as a means of providing adequate supports to teachers, children, and families to promote positive mental health, buffer the effects of toxic stress and trauma, and bring out the most optimal development and learning of each child.

With the passage of the initial Assembly Bill, there was an increased need for tools and materials that can support early care and education programs as they work to support ALL children to be successful in their early care and education settings. This need continues with the expansion in Assembly Bill 2806. Along with Management Bulletin 23-08 and Child Care Bulletin 23-24 (PDF), below are some resources that may be helpful to implement AB 2806 requirements. There are also training and technical assistance projects funded through the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division that may be available to support some programs.

Preventing Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Childhood Settings PreventingExpulsion.org

Preventing Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Childhood Settings

Good starting point. Very comprehensive information and self-assessment with resources.

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Graphic of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network website homepage IECMHC Network

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network

The California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network delivers consultation services, resources, and training activities for early learning and care center-based program staff, family child care providers, and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers.

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Photograph of a womans silohuette with arms outstretched overlooking the ocean Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First

Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First

Adults need to focus on remaining calm during challenging episodes so that they can effectively interact with and support children with challenging behavior. Use these resources for the adults (teachers and family members) who are working in stressful situations.
Graphic of overlapping documents available for download California Tools to Focus on Prevention

California Tools to Focus on Prevention

Several tools and checklists to help teaching teams be systematic in examining the potential contributors to challenging behavior and in documenting strategies they are using to prevent challenging behavior.
Graphic represetnation of documents and website resources available on the linked page Online Resources on Expulsion

Online Resources on Expulsion

Expulsion and Suspension are hot topics all over the country. Here are a few websites, articles and webinars that are available from national resources.
Child Care State Capacity Tool Child Care State Capacity Tool

Child Care State Capacity Tool to Prevent Expulsion

This online tool lays out a rubric for a range of policy options to promote young children’s social-emotional development and reduce the likelihood of expulsion and suspension in early learning settings.

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Three children sitting outside laughing CDSS Quality Improvement Initatives

California Department of Social Services Quality Improvement Initiatives

The Child Care and Development Division of the California Department of Social Services funds many statewide projects, products, and activities with resources that may be helpful to programs.

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Three girls exploring a sensory table filled with unpopped popcorn kernels CDE Inclusive Early Education Resources

California Department of Education (CDE) Inclusive Early Education Resources

Resources to support inclusive policies and practices for early care and education.

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A father posing with his two sons outside of a child care center Resources to Share with Families

Resources to Share with Families

This section contains articles, links, and tools that can either be directly shared with family members or used to help staff think about how to communicate with families about challenging behavior.

About Us

Preventing Suspension and Expulsion of Young Children in Child Care & Early Education Settings is led by the California Collaborative on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CA CSEFEL) Leadership Team that is funded by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division and includes many state agencies, regional leaders, and their training partners.