(1) The Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program is established. The Department of Early Learning and Care shall administer the program as provided by this section.

(2) The purposes of the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program are to:

(a) Reduce the use of suspension and expulsion in early childhood care and education programs; and

(b) Reduce disparities in the use of suspension and expulsion in early childhood care and education programs based on race, ethnicity, language, ability or any other protected class identified by the Early Learning Council by rule.

(3) The Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program shall achieve the purposes described in subsection (2) of this section by:

(a) Incorporating into early childhood care and education programs racial equity, trauma-informed principles and practices and strengths-based multitiered systems of support;

(b) Supporting the capacity of families, educators and early childhood care and education professionals to promote children’s social emotional well-being and growth;

(c) Creating a source for early childhood care and education professionals to request technical assistance related to children’s social emotional well-being and growth;

(d) Building capacity in communities to deliver technical assistance that supports:

(A) Children’s social emotional development;

(B) Children’s positive racial identity development;

(C) Antibias practices in early childhood care and education programs; and

(D) Inclusive practices in early childhood care and education programs;

(e) Enhancing community-based supports for families that have a history of trauma, are involved in multiple systems of support or need connection to intervention services;

(f) Providing early childhood care and education professionals with access to technical assistance to support the stability of placements in early childhood care and education programs; and

(g) Developing and supporting practices that reduce the use of suspension or expulsion.

(4) Under the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program, the Department of Early Learning and Care shall establish:

(a) Common definitions related to antibias practices in early childhood care and education;

(b) Common definitions related to inclusive practices in early childhood care and education;

(c) Common definitions and guidelines for early childhood care and education suspension and expulsion;

(d) Standards and guidelines for program administration and for the delivery of technical assistance services that are culturally responsive and that ensure technical assistance is implemented with a focus on antibias and inclusive practices;

(e) Requirements for knowledge, skills and competencies for technical assistance specialists and mental health consultants participating in the program, with a focus on racial equity, the science of child development, trauma-informed principles and practices, social emotional learning principles, antibias practices and inclusive practices;

(f) Standards for data collection and evaluation to assess the impacts of the program, including eliminating disparities in exclusionary practices based on race, ethnicity, language, ability or other protected classes; and

(g) Requirements that early childhood care and education programs certified or registered under ORS § 329A.280 or 329A.330, or receiving public funding for early childhood care and education services, must request services from the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program when a young child in an early childhood care or education program is facing potential expulsion.

(5) In support of the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion Prevention Program, the Department of Early Learning and Care shall coordinate with the Oregon Health Authority to develop a plan for integrated mental and behavioral health and social and emotional supports for children and families, including establishing a resource list of diverse, community-based mental health consultants to support the goals of the suspension and expulsion program.

(6) The Early Learning Council may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of this section. [2021 c.518 § 1]

329A.600 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS Chapter 329A or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

(Temporary provisions on study on suspension and expulsion in early childhood care and education programs)

Sections 3b and 3c, chapter 518, Oregon Laws 2021, and sections 1 and 2, chapter 576, Oregon Laws 2021, provide:

(1) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall conduct a study on:

(a) The use of suspension and expulsion in early childhood care and education programs; and

(b) Efforts to reduce and prevent the use of suspension and expulsion in early childhood care and education programs.

(2) The department shall report the results of the study required under this section to the appropriate interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2024. [2021 c.518 § 3b and 2021 c.576 § 1]

Section 3b of this 2021 Act is repealed on December 31, 2024. [2021 c.518 § 3c]

Section 1 of this 2021 Act is repealed on December 31, 2024. [2021 c.576 § 2]