As educators throughout America put together to welcome college students for the 2024-25 faculty yr, a typical follow typically goes unseen: Lecturers spending their very own cash on classroom provides.
Whereas this follow is long-standing, the quantity academics spend has risen sharply in recent times, as many faculty provides have jumped in worth. Greater than 90% of academics spend their very own cash on faculty provides, in line with the Nationwide Training Affiliation, the biggest academics union within the nation. Earlier than the pandemic, academics spent a median of $500 out of pocket per yr. The union estimated that quantity would bounce previous $800 for the 2023-24 faculty yr.
Lecturers instructed Chalkbeat in 2018 that they dug into their financial institution accounts for pencils, snacks, and even an air-con unit. Some faculty districts present educators stipends for college provides, however not all do. Fundraising websites like GoFundMe have turn into more and more in style for academics, and for fogeys elevating cash for his or her college students’ educators, with the positioning even publishing suggestions for classroom fundraising.
As the brand new faculty yr approaches, Chalkbeat desires to listen to from educators: What are you spending on faculty provides? What do you want your faculty communities knew about this difficulty? Fill out the survey beneath to weigh in.
Caroline Bauman is the deputy editor for engagement at Chalkbeat. Owen Berg is Chalkbeat’s 2024 viewers and engagement intern.
