South Carolina Topping the Charts in Preschool Suspensions
Startling Statistics
South Carolina is leading the nation with the highest number of suspensions among preschool children, aged 2½ to 5 years old. A worrisome indicator is that Black students were the receivers of two-thirds of these suspensions, as per a federal government report.
With 436 suspensions, the rate at which Black preschoolers are being ousted from school is almost double that of Texas, a state with a population six times larger. Despite composing just 19% of the preschooler population enrolled in early childhood classrooms in South Carolina’s public schools, Black children make up 61% of the early learners who’ve been suspended at least once.
Racial Bias at the Forefront
The research authority, Impact Stats, points towards implicit racial bias against Black preschool children as a prime reason for these disproportionate suspension rates. Dr. Melodie Baker, President, and CEO of Impact Stats remarked on a trend where “Black children are perceived as older, less innocent, more prone to aggression and more deserving of harsher punishment compared to their non-Black peers.”
Repercussions of Suspensions
Early learners who are suspended are ten times more vulnerable to struggles with learning, pushing up high school dropout rates and the state’s prison population. Dr. Baker emphasized that regardless of their backgrounds, “all children deserve high-quality early childhood education to thrive.”
Legislative Action
In response to this glaring issue, Senators Bradley Hutto, Katrina Shealy, and Mike Reichenbach proposed Senate Bill 1108 on February 28, which calls for compulsory training for school staff and efforts to maintain student enrollments. The bill also highlights the necessity of relevant data collection for suspensions and expulsions.
Challenges with Data Interpretation
Impact Stats faced difficulties in analyzing the suspension data as it is not reported by race. A limited review of 13 predominantly Black enrollment schools, however, showed that almost half of the reported suspensions were from these schools alone. Charleston County School District’s (CCSD) Director of Communications, Andy Pruitt, acknowledges the historical inequalities in the system, particularly apparent in disciplinary discrepancies amongst different student groups.
Community Coalitions and School Initiatives
Various community organizations have come together under the hub agency, the YWCA of Greater Charleston, to seek solutions to the systemic education and mental health issues affecting learning. The CCSD has taken various initiatives to foster an equitable and positive school culture including implementing restorative practices in many schools, focusing on strengthening relationships within school communities.
This year, the CCSD rolled out the Prevent, Teach, and Reteach (PTR) Guide for students under five years old, in lieu of the traditional progressive discipline plan. This initiative aims at identifying the root causes of students’ behaviors and equip adults to respond appropriately.
