A Framework for Early Childhood Administrators to Support Equitable Practices

Abstract Early childhood administrators are responsible for ensuring all students, regardless of cultural, racial, ethnic, or linguistic background, have access to equitable and inclusive educational environments. Yet preschoolers continuously receive high rates of suspension and expulsion. And, when disaggregated by race and gender, Black preschool boys are twice as likely to receive these disciplinary practices compared to their same-aged peers from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The purpose of this article is to provide early childhood administrators with guidance for reducing educational disparities and creating equitable early childhood education environments. The article leads early childhood administrators through Dr. Ruiz, a fictitious early childhood administrator’s experience with six elements for ensuring equity across her center’s practices and procedures. Each element is discussed, and action steps and a table of resources are provided to assist with implementation.