Maintaining a high-quality childcare and early learning program is an important aspect to preventing suspensions and expulsions in an early learning setting. Early Childhood Education programs are responsible for the following: creating positive learning environments that focus on preventing expulsions and suspensions, encouraging partnerships between programs and families of support healthy development, and ensuring fairness, equity, and continuous improvement to support children's social, emotional, and behavioral health.

Chosen Childcare focuses on fostering social emotional development and responding to challenging behaviors by incorporating positive discipline practices and policies before ever considering expulsion or suspension from early childhood programs.

Chosen Childcare's procedures for prevention of expulsion and suspension: In an effort to prevent expulsion and suspension of children we will follow in the policy and practice and in a consistent and nondiscriminatory manner:

• Use developmentally appropriate practices that provide for stimulating and interactive learning environments, diversity, age-appropriate expectations, small group activities, teachablemoments, and knowledge of research-based evidence and best practices in child development, early learning, and education.

• Invest in professional development, trainings, and education to ensure educators have the compctenciosto support children's social and emotional health.

• Develop and implement classroom schedules that meet the needs of the children.

• Adapt learning environments to promote healthy social interactions with others.

• Develop healthy and nurturing relationships with children.

• Develop strong partnerships and relationships with parents.

• Develop and implement classroom expectations that are developmentally appropriate, clear, and consistent.

• Provide family engagement opportunities.

• Ensure fairness and equity.

Communication:

The agency's expulsion and suspension policy will be clearly communicated to all staff and parent of enrolled children.

Employees:

The Expulsion and Suspension Policy will be incorporated into employee/staff handbook and training practices. The agencyDirector will explain suspension and expulsion policies to a l l current staff and any new staff. Al existing staff and any new staff are required to be knowledgeable of the policy and will sign a statement acknowledging they have received and read the agency's Expulsion and Suspension Policy.

Parent/Guardians:

The Expulsion and Suspension policy will be incorporated into the parent handbook. Within thirty (30) days of adopting the policy, the Director shall disseminate and review the policy with parents/guardians of al currently enrolled children. A copy of the policy will be disseminated and reviewed with newly enrolled children upon enrollment. Al parents/guardians will sign a statement acknowledging they have received and read Chosen Childcare's Expulsion and Suspension Policy.

Other Options Prior to Expulsion:

Prior to the expulsion of any child from this program, the staff and director will follow these guidelines.

• Identify and engage mental and behavioral health consultants and community resources after obtaining parent permission.

• Reduce the number of days or amount of time in care for a specified amount of time. Conference with parents to discuss positive behavior interventions and development of goals.

• Document efforts to prevent and reduce expulsion. Provide reasonable accommodations.

Transition Procedures:

If an expulsion must occur, Chosen Childcare will assist the child and family in transitioning to another program by identifying and engaging mental/behavioral health consultants and community resources t o assist in determining the most appropriate placement for the child. First, the child's parent will sign of on a Student Disciplinary Action Form which will list: First Warning, Second Warning and its date and time of the infraction, location, description, corrective action taken, supervisor signature/date, Parent Signature and check mark of whether they agree or disagree. Two warnings will take place before termination.

Note: Student Disciplinary Action form is available on our website as well.