The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH) is convening the Foundations for Success Taskforce, a statewide action planning process led by Taskforce Chair and former South Carolina Department of Social Services Director Michael Leach, MMFT.
Experts from across the state will work collaboratively to develop an action plan to reduce suspensions and expulsions among the state’s earliest learners; students enrolled in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.
Exclusionary discipline in early childhood can lead to:
- Long-term academic struggles
- Higher risk of justice system involvement
- Lasting emotional, physical, and financial strain on South Carolina families
In 2024, the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children (JCLCC) reviewed South Carolina Department of Education data showing that 747 more public preschool students were suspended in 2024 compared to 2021. Additionally, recent data shows that in South Carolina, students with disabilities are being suspended or removed from school (for 10 days or fewer) more often than in other states (at a rate of 15%, significantly above the national average of 7.4%).
Yesterday, IMPH Director of Legislative Engagement Amelia Wilks Robinson, testified on behalf of IMPH in front of members of the JCLCC to share information about the Foundations for Success Taskforce. Set to begin convening this Thursday, this effort builds off foundational work the JCLCC has done in the early care and education landscape.
The Taskforce’s action plan will be released in October 2026.