Disparities in U.S. Preschool Suspensions

DISCIPLINING PRESCHOOLERS The 2011-12 Civil Rights Data Collection offers the first federal accounting of preschool suspensions. The self-reported information reflects disciplinary actions taken in 99 percent of public schools that have preschool children, representing more than 1 million nationally. Nearly 5,000 preschoolers were suspended once, and more than 2,500 were suspended more than once. Boys 79% 82% PERCENT OF 54% TOTAL PRESCHOOL POPULATION PERCENT OF THOSE SUSPENDED PERCENT OF THOSE SUSPENDED ONCE MORE THAN ONCE White Children PERCENT OF 43% 26% 26% TOTAL PRESCHOOL POPULATION PERCENT PERCENT OF THOSE SUSPENDED OF THOSE SUSPENDED ONCE MORE THAN ONCE Black Children 48% 42% PERCENT OF TOTAL PRESCHOOL POPULATION 18% PERCENT PERCENT OF THOSE OF THOSE SUSPENDED SUSPENDED ONCE MORE THAN ONCE Children With Disabilities PERCENT OF TOTAL PRESCHOOL 19% 17% POPULATION 22% PERCENT PERCENT OF THOSE SUSPENDED OF THOSE SUSPENDED ONCE MORE THAN ONCE English-Language Learners PERCENT OF 11% 9% TOTAL PRESCHOOL POPULATION 12% PERCENT OF THOSE SUSPENDED PERCENT OF THOSE SUSPENDED ONCE MORE THAN ONCE SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights EDUCATION VWEEK