In shocking news, preschool suspensions in South Carolina have nearly doubled since 2017, with almost 1,000 children as young as three and four years old being suspended last school year. With evidence that boys and children of color are disproportionately affected, lawmakers and educators alike worry about how this trend reflects on the state and what it means for the future. A South Carolina State House committee is now investigating what other options exist to help the state lose its title of the nation's highest rate of preschool suspensions.

If your child has been unfairly suspended and you are worried about potential adverse effects following them for years to come, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help. Contact us today by phone at (888) 535-3686 or through our website to get started.

The Surprising Increase in Preschool Suspensions

If the idea of preschoolers being suspended from school is surprising, you aren't alone. Even some South Carolina legislators are surprised by the ongoing trends and aim to do something about it. In 2017, only around five hundred Pre-K children were suspended in South Carolina. Today, that number is at nearly one thousand, and it's clear that something must change.

Despite these eye-catching amounts, there may be some limited explanations. Some argue that the increase in suspensions is partly due to higher enrollment in preschool programs. In addition, the director of South Carolina's Department of Social Services described how the state's definition of suspension can also include short classroom removals to help children calm down. While these factors may explain some of the observed rise, the number of suspensions remains alarming and continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable groups.

Modern Day Punishments, Future Consequences

You would hope that adults understand that young children are still developmentally growing, but that isn't always the case. Something that a young child does in preschool is sometimes enough to label them a "bad kid" and forever change their trajectory through school and beyond. Once a child is branded as a troublemaker, this reputation can follow them from classroom to classroom, making it extremely tough to avoid unfair assumptions and treatment.

At such a young age, children are still learning how to interact with others, exist in a shared space, and safely navigate their emotions. When they are removed from the classroom, this natural learning process is disrupted, leading to feelings of rejection and isolation that only grow over time.

Early suspensions and expulsions predict later academic failure, behavioral issues, school dropout, and even an increased likelihood of future incarceration, contributing to the grimly named preschool-to-prison pipeline. Rather than helping children manage challenging behaviors, suspensions often compound the problem, furthering inequality—something that South Carolina is learning the hard way.

The Lento Law Firm Can Protect Your Child's Future

You must act quickly if suspensions are impacting your young child's academic trajectory. Without challenging or appealing suspensions, you may inadvertently allow your child to get stuck in an educational trap where schools, administrators, and teachers don't give them a fair shake.

Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at (888) 535-3686 or contact us through our website to protect your preschooler from absurd suspension policies.