BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Enrollment in Maine public schools dropped by 4.4%, nearly 8,000 students, between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, according to state Department of Education data.

Most of those students transitioned to homeschooling, which saw an increase of 5,000 students, according to department data.

School systems expect many students to return for the 2021-22 school year, Bangor Daily News reported.

According to an Education Week report, Maine had the fourth-highest decrease in the nation behind Vermont’s 5.3% decrease, Mississippi’s 5% drop, and New Hampshire’s 4.7% decline.

Steve Bailey, executive director at Maine School Management Association, said that the change reflects concerns from parents about safety during the pandemic and child care challenges.

The most significant decrease was in prekindergarten and kindergarten students, in which the population decreased by 16%, compared to a 3% decrease in all other students.