The Handbook of Racial Equity in Early Childhood Education

by Jen Neitzel, Ph.D. Educational Equity Institute Charlotte, North Carolina and Ebonyse Mead, Ed.D. Educational Equity Institute Savannah, Georgia with invited contributors

Contents

1. About the Downloads ... v
2. About the Authors ... vii
3. About the Contributors ... ix
4. Preface ... xi
5. Acknowledgments ... xv
6. Chapter 1: Current Issues and Challenges ... 1
7. Chapter 2: Racial Healing as a Pathway to Racial Equity ... 13
8. Chapter 3: Creating a Shared Language ... 27
9. Chapter 4: Whiteness in Early Childhood Education ... 39
10. Chapter 5: Historical Trauma ... 51
11. Chapter 6: Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Childhood Education ... 63
12. Chapter 7: The Role of Culturally Responsive Anti-Bias Education ... 73
13. Chapter 8: Culturally Responsive Family Engagement ... 89
14. Chapter 9: Equity-Aligned Uses of Data Collection and Data Systems in Early Childhood Education ... 95
15. Chapter 10: Positive Racial Identity Development ... 105
16. Chapter 11: A Transformed Early Childhood System ... 119
17. Chapter 12: Systems Change ... 129
18. Afterword ... 141
19. Appendix A: Positive Racial Identity Development: First Person Voices ... 143
20. Appendix B: Anti-Racist Resources ... 155
21. Bibliography ... 159

About the Authors

Jen Neitzel, Ph.D.

Dr. Jen Neitzel is the Executive Director of the Educational Equity Institute. She boasts a rich career spanning from teaching young children with significant behavioral challenges to becoming a full-time researcher focused on educational equity. Dr. Neitzel started the Educational Equity Institute to promote equity and justice through racial healing and systems change.

Ebonyse Mead, Ed.D.

Dr. Ebonyse Mead is a clinical instructor in birth-to-kindergarten teacher education and president of the Educational Equity Institute. She works tirelessly to improve outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse children, directly addressing racial disparities in educational practices.

Preface

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on racial inequities in early childhood education, especially concerning the suspensions and expulsions of young Black boys. This book focuses on Black children and families as they face the deepest disparities across various systems.

Current Issues Related to Equity in Early Childhood

The issues of equity are framed around four fundamental points:

1. Suspensions and expulsions
2. Instructional practices
3. Teacher–child relationships
4. Access to high-quality early learning programs

Preschool Suspensions and Expulsions

Young Black children are disproportionately affected by suspensions and expulsions in early learning settings due to systemic racism and implicit biases.

Instructional Practices

Existing research highlights disparities in instructional experiences between Black and White children, affecting their academic achievements. Culturally responsive anti-bias education is vital in addressing these inequities.

Teacher–Child Relationships

Research illustrates that Black children often have less positive relationships with their teachers, impacting their academic progress. Understanding implicit bias is crucial for enhancing these relationships.

Access to High-Quality Early Learning Programs

Many Black children and families face barriers accessing high-quality education due to socioeconomic factors and systemic inequities.

Barriers to Equity Work

Working toward equity requires recognizing and overcoming numerous barriers, including siloed efforts, egos, and the failure to explicitly address racism.

Moving Forward

To advance anti-racism work, individuals should commit to:

1. Educating themselves on racial issues through various mediums.
2. Reflecting on personal biases and societal structures.
3. Observing and noting instances of discrimination in daily life.
4. Practicing grace and understanding through the journey.

This work requires courage and commitment from all stakeholders to create equitable early childhood systems.