By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – Birmingham schools will lose millions of dollars in state funding next year because of low enrollment in the system. Birmingham Superintendent Wayman Shiver says he's concerned about the loss of students because he says it will mean cutting teachers and staff. Statistics from the state Department of Education show that the number of students dropped by more than 2,000 in the first 40 days of the current school year. State funding is based largely on attendance during those first 40 days. Enrollment also determines how many teachers the state will fund for each school system. Meanwhile, enrollment has grown this year at schools in suburban areas around Birmingham.