Preschool Suspension and Expulsion Practices

in Child Care in South Carolina

September 19, 2019- 12:00pm-1:00pm

Heather Smith Googe, Ph.D. is a Research Assistant Professor at the Yvonne & Schuyler Moore Child Development Research Center at the University of South Carolina. She is the Principal Investigator of the South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Collaborative and the Principal Investigator of the South Carolina Partnerships for Inclusion project. She has 20 years of experience in the field of early childhood special education and holds a PhD in Special Education from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Googe has experience as an early interventionist working with infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, as a preschool teacher in an inclusive preschool, as a trainer and technical assistance provider supporting child care providers to increase their use of inclusive practices, and as an adjunct instructor teaching courses in early childhood and early childhood special education for both undergraduate and graduate students. Her research and professional interests include professional development to support inclusive practices among early childhood teachers, developmental screening practices of early childhood teachers, and the development and implementation of cross sector professional development systems in early childhood.

Dr. Googe will share findings from a recent study on the prevalence of suspension and expulsion practices in child care settings in South Carolina. Practice and policy implications related to exclusionary practices in early childhood settings will be discussed.

After this presentation participants will be able to:

• 1.     Describe the issues related to using exclusionary practices in preschool settings.
• 2.     Discuss a recent study about preschool suspension and expulsion in child care settings in South Carolina.
• 3.     Identify current state initiatives designed to decrease exclusionary practices in early care and education settings.