Innovation Cohort on Eliminating the Use of Exclusionary Discipline

Application for Intensive Technical Assistance
March 2023 – June 2023

The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) is offering a technical assistance opportunity to states, territories, or tribes that wish to enhance, expand, or strengthen their implementation of the Pyramid Model with a focus on eliminating the use of exclusionary discipline practices in early childhood programs. NCPMI is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to provide training and technical assistance to state (territory or tribal) systems for the implementation of the Pyramid Model for Promoting the Social and Emotional Competence of Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children (Pyramid Model) and address factors that influence disparities in early childhood social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes.

Professionals, families, organizations, and policymakers in early childhood have advocated for eliminating the use of exclusionary discipline practices. Research indicates that young children who are suspended or expelled are more likely to experience future academic failure and grade retention, have negative beliefs about school, have higher dropout rates, and increased incarcerations (Children’s Equity Project, 2020, 2022; Zeng et al., 2021). In addition to these concerns are the disturbing data that these practices are used disproportionately with preschool children who are Black and children with disabilities (USDOE/Office of Civil Rights, 2021). The Pyramid Model is identified as a promising approach for reducing suspensions and expulsions over time (Zinsser, 2022). State teams implementing the Pyramid Model are encouraged to consider how their efforts can be a critical support as their state and policymakers seek to reduce the use of exclusionary discipline practices.

This intensive technical assistance opportunity will provide a cohort of 5-10 states, territories, or tribes with resources, information, systems implementation strategies, and support to develop and initiate a strategic plan for addressing exclusionary discipline. Participants will identify considerations and strategies for the work of the leadership team, the professional development network of program implementation coaches, implementation sites, and the use of data in this effort.

Entities applying for participation in the cohort TA should identify two members of their Pyramid Model leadership team or workgroup to participate in all calls and to work with their larger team on implementation planning for addressing exclusionary discipline practices.

Application is no longer available.