Schools Supplies on a Big Scale

From the Progressive via Bill Moyers&Company, Is Back-to-School More Expensive This Year? Yes, and Here’s Why:

The most recent survey asking teachers what they pay out of their own pockets for their students’ school supplies found teachers spend nearly $500 on average, and 1 in 10 spends $1,000 or more.

This is not to say parents shouldn’t complain about getting hit up for the costs of school supplies.

The annually compiled Backpack Index, which calculates the average cost of school supplies and school fees, reports parents face steep costs during back-to-school season: $662 for elementary school children, $1,001 for middle-school children, and $1,489 for high-school students.

Middle-school parents face average costs of $195 for athletics, $75 for field trips and $42 for other school activity fees. In high school, the fees spike much higher to $375 for athletics, $285 for musical instrumentals, $80 to participate in band and $60 in other school activity fees. High-school fees may also include academic courses such as Advanced Placement classes, which more schools are emphasizing. The average fee for tests related to these courses is $92. The costs of materials to prepare for these tests and the SAT average more than $52.

Someone has to pay for these things, or kids go without.

One SPS school is stepping up...again.  From Soup for Teachers:

I am so proud of the work we are doing at the John Muir PTA toward equity in our school. For the second year, we are purchasing all the supplies for every student - from notebooks and pencils all the way down to the hand wipes and kleenex. 

We buy in bulk and everyone gets the same brands and quantities. It's good for teachers, students and families. 

The cost at our school works out to about $20-$25/student.

Man, the money you could save -teachers and parents - buying in bulk.  Congrats to the parents at John Muir.