Review Article - Current Pediatric Research (2024) Volume 28, Issue 3

Excluding black toddlers from the preschool-to-prison pipeline

When compared to other racial groups, African American toddlers are more likely to be suspended from school. This work will use Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems framework to examine the “preschool to prison pipeline.” This phrase refers to the exclusion of Black toddlers from classroom settings that can eventually lead to negative adults outcomes. Since African Americans are disportionately more likely to be incarcerated than members of other racial and ethnic groups, this work will offer practical recommendations regarding how preschool teachers can help reverse the “preschool to prison pipeline” among Black male toddlers whose families have inherent strengths yet are more economically, academically, and socially disadvantaged than other racial groups.

Author(s): Cassandra D Chaney*

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