Toddler School Suspensions in the U.S.

Toddler School Suspensions in the U.S.

More than 8,000 toddlers in the U.S. were suspended from preschool at least once during the 2011 school year, new data from the U.S. Department of Education show — a small but significant number, experts say, because preschool students shouldn’t be sent home from school at all.

The new data show that racial gaps start early: Black children constitute 18 percent of all kids attending preschool but are 48 percent of all students suspended more than once, the new data show.

Across K-12 schools, black students are 16 percent of the student population but 42 percent suspended more than once in the 2011-12 school calendar year.

This is significant information for parents.  Parental involvement in the life of their children is critical to their wellbeing. Today, children are exposed to far more information that previous generations ever were. In an age of social medial and instantaneous communication devises available to many young children, parents must have certain oversight over their children´s forms of communication.  We know that in this day and age even preschool children are comfortable with tablets and cellular phone usage, even more than their parents.

Unfortunately, racial disparity in our schools is not new, the consequences of which have had, and will continue to have, long term consequences for our country. If we are well informed as parents, we can make a world of difference in the life of our children and their children´s children.

Stay informed. Be an active part of their school.

 I am Attorney Martin E. Regan, Jr. and these are my personal thoughts….

Read more…

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/civil-rights-education-race-equity-104879.html#ixzz2wc6lADhl