EBD Blog

NY Times reporter Tamar Lewin described the results of a survey by Yale Child Study Center researchers examining the rates of expulsions in preschools. The results are intriguing.

The study, based on a telephone survey of 4,815 state-financed prekindergarten classrooms, found that the preschool expulsion rate was 6.7 per 1,000 children enrolled, compared with 2.1 expulsions per 1,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Given the number of enrollments nationally, it is estimated that more than 5,000 preschool children are expelled each year.

The study did not gather information on why the children were expelled. But Dr. Gilliam said a wide range of behavior could lead to expulsion: aggression toward the teacher or other children; actions that violate a zero-tolerance policy, like taking a toy gun to school; or anything that might cause a teacher to worry about injury and liability, like running out of the classroom to the parking lot.

“We don’t know how the behavioral problems break down, how much is egregious versus zero tolerance,” he said. “We weren’t measuring behavioral problems, we were measuring the decisions teachers make.”

According to Levin, the researchers have many interpretations of their findings, including the need for more psychologists to support preschool teachers. To me, it sounds like a great opportunity for teaching. Someone needs to teach these children how to behave appropriately in school settings. They less likely to learn how to do so if they’re not in the situation.

Cynicism rising here: My guess is that these kids will ultimately be seen as the possesed by personality devils and called all kinds of names.

• Link to the NY Times story.
• Link to Yale’s Child Study Center