Inclusion means welcoming and meeting the needs of all children including those with challenging behavior and children from racially, culturally and language diverse families. The recent US Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education Joint Policy Statement calls for national attention to the epidemic of preschool expulsion and suspension and the related racial and gender disparities in these practices.

This workshop will focus on building the vision, leadership, competence and confidence to include and meet the needs of all children and families. Resources and evidence-based practices will be presented on how to increase inclusion of children with challenging behavior and eliminate expulsion, suspension and racial bias through the use of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence of Infants and Young Children and other culturally responsive practices. Specifically, participants will learn about an approach that embeds the Pyramid Model practices and other culturally responsive practices. Participants will develop action plans for their programs.