In 2012, in Connecticut alone, almost 2,000 children 6 years and under—overwhelmingly black and Latino—were suspended from kindergarten and preschool.

These suspensions re-traumatize young children, and dramatically increase their risk of dropping out down the line—and being sent to prison. Instead of labeling them as bad kids and suspend them, why don’t we see them as children, little children, who have faced adversities others haven’t, and begin to provide teachers supportive services and the coaching they need to help these kids learn to thrive?

Some preschools are changing by adopting trauma-informed practices. Head Start is a leader with its Head Start, Trauma Smart program designed to help heal children three to five years old. The ACEs Connection www.acesconnection.org is a hub for providers interested in developing trauma-informed practices, along with its companion website, www.acestoohigh.org.