OHIO, (WOWO) — According to the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment is dropped 8.7% in Ohio’s Public Schools between 2000 and 2023.

NBC4 Columbus reports that at least one expert says that Ohio could see a further decline of 10 percent by the end of the decade.

A near 16 percent drop in the birthrate is to blame according to officials who say that they’re looking at policy changes for funding to avoid future school closures.