A state education report says suspensions of children younger than seven from Connecticut's public schools jumped nearly ten percent last year.
The report, presented to the state Board of Education, says 1,217 children younger than seven were suspended, up from 1,110 in 2013.
Board Chairman Allan Taylor called the number astounding. He said there is "no evil intent in kindergarten students."
In the five school years ending in 2013-14, the rate of students suspended or expelled at least once dropped from nine percent to 7.5 percent. The 1.5 percentage point drop translates into about 10,000 fewer students.
More than 15 percent of black students were suspended or expelled last school year, and more than ten percent of Hispanic students were suspended or expelled. Fewer than five percent of white students were suspended or expelled.
