HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A state education report says suspensions of children younger than 7 from Connecticut's public schools jumped nearly 10 percent last year.

The report presented to the state Board of Education says 1,217 children younger than 7 were suspended, up from 1,110 in 2013.

Board Chairman Allan Taylor called the number astounding. He says 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 9 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 10 percent of Hispanic students were suspended or expelled.

Fewer than 5 percent of white students were suspended or expelled.