MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) -- The State Board of Education said districts are seeing fewer students in the classroom this year. It is the largest reduction in 40 years.

Because teaching jobs are tied to enrollment, leaders explained it could lead to staff reductions.

"The thing that’s most interesting to me is that this is an across-the-state reduction," said Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey.

State board data shows 5,823 fewer students are attending public schools this year. Mackey said a large portion of those students--around 3,000--moved to private schools or homeschooling through the CHOOSE Act. It's a tax credit students can use to pay for tuition.

The others, Mackey explained, are still being accounted for. He said some districts saw a large loss of Hispanic stu

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