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State Leads in Reducing Public Childcare and Pre-K Suspension and Expulsion

J. Froelich
/
KUAF
Asbell Elementary School pre-K children enjoy an afternoon snack with teacher Amber King and paraprofessional Sheila Wright.

The federal government issued a warning to states to address the alarming number of young children being expelled or suspended from public daycares and pre-K schools. The Arkansas Department of Human Services is among the first to respond, launching a model program in 2017 called the BehaviorHelp Response System, which provides resources to distressed youngsters and their families. Many Arkansas districts also rely on a classroom method known as Conscious Discipline.

Jacqueline Froelich is an investigative reporter and news producer for Ozarks at Large.