OAR 414-305-0750. Suspension and Expulsion Prevention

(1) A certified child care center must develop and implement a suspension and expulsion prevention policy. The intent of the suspension and expulsion prevention policy is to ensure that young children are supported to remain in care. (2) The suspension and expulsion prevention policy must: (a) Be consistent with the center’s Behavior and Guidance policy (OAR 414-305-0700); (b) Identify existing center supports or tools that may be accessed; (c) Identify when and how classroom staff must seek support when challenges related to the care of children arise, including: (A) When and in what circumstances classroom staff must seek support; (B) How the director or designated center personnel will respond to requests for support from classroom staff; and (C) What internal center supports will be made available to the classroom staff. (d) Identify how the certified center will determine if additional supports are needed for a child; (e) Identify when the certified center will request services from Every Child Belongs (ECB); and (f) Include the method that the certified center will use to notify a family of concerns related to a child’s behavior, such as written notification or an in-person conference. (3) When a young child is facing potential expulsion, as defined in these rules, a certified center must: (a) Document the challenging behaviors and any known triggers (for example: specific activities, times of day, transitions); (b) Document what strategies and supports the certified center has used to support the child and their effectiveness; (c) Request services from Every Child Belongs (ECB); and (d) Simultaneously with the request for services from ECB, notify the child’s family regarding the behavior concerns to: (A) Begin to collaboratively problem-solve to identify potential strategies and supports for the child; and (B) Establish frequency and method of ongoing communication with the family. (4) If the certified center is unable to connect with the child’s family, as outlined in OAR 414-305-0750(3)(d), the center must attempt alternative methods of communication and document those attempts. (5) A certified child care center may implement a temporary safety-based intervention if a child’s behavior creates a serious safety threat, as defined by these rules. (6) A certified child care center may only use a temporary safety-based intervention if: (a) There is behavior that meets the definition of serious safety threat. The center must document the behavior; and (b) The certified child care center has attempted to address the behavior through strategies outlined in their Behavior and Guidance policy (OAR 414-305-0700), strategies suggested by the family, and any recommendations from professionals previously consulted about the child. (7) If a certified child care center initiates a temporary safety-based intervention, the center must: (a) Notify the child's family or other emergency contact immediately; (b) Contact ECB immediately to request services, if not already done; and (c) Notify CCLD of the temporary safety-based intervention and its expected duration by 5:00 pm the next business day. (8) The length of a temporary safety-based intervention may only be for the time necessary to incorporate supports to reduce the occurrence of the behavior. The temporary safety-based intervention must end as soon as safety can be maintained with supports in place. (9) The certified child care center must document the basis for the duration of the temporary safety-based intervention. (10) During the temporary safety-based intervention, the certified child care center must communicate with the family regarding: (a) Updates on access to supports; (b) Any changes to the child’s behaviors while not in care; and (c) Timeline to return to care. (11) If requested by CCLD, a certified child care center must update CCLD if the expected duration of the temporary safety-based intervention changes.