TAMPA, Fla. - School hallways in the Tampa Bay area are emptier than expected this fall.

Pinellas County Schools have already lost about 4,000 students compared to last year, and Hillsborough reports a more than 7,000 student decline from last year.

Because Florida funds public schools at $9,130 per student, even small enrollment drops lead to big budget hits. Pinellas reports about $23 million less in funding this year.

Dig deeper:

Union leaders are pointing to several factors that are leading to the decline:

What's next:

Districts may need to shuffle teachers to schools with higher enrollment. Some campuses could face closures if the trend continues.

The Source: This story is based on interviews with the presidents of the teachers’ unions in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties

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