Expulsion rates for preschoolers are three times the rate of older students, but these numbers improve when teachers get assistance from mental health professionals in the classroom. While the visits are not classifiable as therapy for children or teachers, they are instructional opportunities that allow teachers to learn effective strategies for dealing with the most disruptive and difficult students. Results are staggeringly positive, with significant reductions in expulsion rates in states that use similar mental health coaching programs. (The Seattle Times)
Madlin Mekelburg was a reporting fellow for the Tribune in 2015 and 2016. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and French. Madlin previously worked at the... More by Madlin Mekelburg
