BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - Thousands of students are unaccounted for as the state is experiencing its biggest decline in enrollment in decades, said Alabama State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey.

“Our reduction in the number of public school students will be the largest reduction we’ve had in the last 4 decades, about 5,000 students when all is said and done,” said Dr. Mackey when explaining enrollment data during an Alabama State Board of Education work session.

Dr. Mackey estimates about 3,000 students are not returning to a public school because they took part in Alabama’s new education savings account program and are now attending private school or are being home schooled.

“We are working with the governor’s office and Department of Revenue to kind of figure out

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