Fighting Pre-K Expulsion in Delaware

Delaware ranks 4th in the nation in the rate at which children are expelled from preschool and pre-k programs, according to research by the Yale Child Study Center. Out of every 1,000 children enrolled in pre-k in Delaware, 13 are expelled. The state recently got some help to address that problem, in the form of a grant from the Center for Mental Health Services, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The $9 million grant will support therapists to work with children ages 2-5 who have been identified as having emotional disturbances, as well as their families and caregivers. Young children with emotional and behavioral problems need access to mental health services and other supports that can help them develop the skills they need to deal with their emotions and succeed in school and interaction with others. Unfortuantely, access to mental health services in the United States is poor, even for many families with health insurance, and children who need these services often cannot access them. Delaware might also want to take a look at the recommendations from this report from Yale Child Study Center and the Foundation for Child Development on policies that can reduce the rate at which children are expelled from pre-k programs.