During the 2021 legislation session, the legislature passed two bills (HB2166 and SB236) addressing suspension and
expulsion in early care and education programs. HB 2166 established the Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion
Prevention Program (ECSEPP) to provide technical assistance–including mental health consultation services–to early care
and education providers and to support stable and inclusive placements for children and families. The program was created to reduce expulsion or suspension in programs serving children from birth through age five and address disparities in the rates of suspension and expulsion based on race, ethnicity, language, ability, or any other protected class.