Schools in parts of California hardest hit by the drought won't suffer a second blow because their students are leaving.
Tom Torlakson, the state's superintendent of schools, said the loss of farm jobs is likely to send many families elsewhere to find work, dropping the number of students at rural Central Valley schools.
Torlakson visited Bakersfield, Fresno and Merced this week.
Schools receive money from the state based on the number of students in class, but the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday that Torlakson vowed to use his powers under the governor's drought declaration to minimize the harm.
Officials can't say yet how many fewer students schools will have.
Torlakson says he'll also make sure schools have money to feed hungry students.
