Readers' Survey 2007: Amount You Spend Out of Pocket Each Year on Classroom Supplies
Edutopia readers weigh in on their favorites.
by Edutopia Staff
Credit: Getty Images
$500 or More
We can see those checking accounts shrinking before our very eyes! Nearly half of you told us you spend $500 or more. Shockingly, more than one in three of those heavy spenders shells out more than $1,000 a year, up to a high of $3,500. Oh, my. Responses ranged from the magnanimous ("I don't care what I spend -- the results are worth it") to the miserly ("$0 -- I refuse to pay for what I can put in the budget"). But the consistent message in response after response was simply "Way too much!"
Our Take
Payback
If you're tapping your own funds for the sake of your students, David Holmstrom, a licensed tax preparer in Brookline, Massachusetts, has advice on how to get some of that investment back from Uncle Sam. It's tough to deduct it the usual way, by itemizing purchases on Schedule A, because classroom expenses rarely outweigh the standard deduction anyone can take. "Congress therefore decided to give educators a special break not available to other employees," Holmstrom says. "They can take up to $250 as an adjustment -- that is, they can subtract it from their income -- whether or not they itemize deductions."
If you're in the 25 percent tax bracket, he says, this adjustment is worth fifty dollars to you -- not enough, surely, but something. The allowance covers out-of-pocket costs for classroom supplies and is available only to teachers, counselors, principals, and aides in private and public K-12 schools who worked at least 900 hours during the year.
Here's the catch: Congress approved the educator adjustment for this year after the tax forms were printed. So, Holmstrom explains, teachers must put the $250 on line 23 of Form 1040 (the line that says "Archer MSA deduction") and write an E on the line to indicate it's an educator expense. He adds, "Isn't the IRS great?"
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so hard!
Submitted by Kelli (not verified) on November 18, 2008 - 15:33.
I just left a staff meeting this afternoon where we began the discussion about the budget for the next school year. As usual, we have NO money and MORE cuts are being made. I must admit it is extremely frustrating to not be given the amount of money necessary to teach my students. I have to spend a lot of my personal money each week to buy things to supplement my school supplies. Just this year alone I have bought glue, folders, various food items for celebrations, manila folders, pencils, and scissors. I'm really struggling with all this out of pocket money I spend on my classroom. To be honest, I can't afford it. I am a single teacher that just built a house last year and am barely getting by from month to month. And the biggest problem is, when I feel that I can't afford to buy things for my classroom, or those little extras for the students every once in awhile, I feel guilty. I don't know how to go about getting more money for my classroom. I wish that a complete breakdown of a school district's budget, down to the dollar, could be made public so that taxpayers could see just what they are paying for. Possibly, cuts could be made in different areas than a teacher's classroom supplies for once.
I spend at least $250. to
Submitted by Deborah H (not verified) on November 17, 2008 - 15:10.
I spend at least $250. to $400. each summer when I go home. I teach overseas and there isn't many places that you can go to buy things to use in the classrooms. I buy them because I find it makes the things I do in the classroom easier. The students are appreciative and so are their parents.
I don't have a lot of money, but I do try to save for my summer visits home. I love what I do and I will continue to buy what I think I need to make my life a little easier in the classroom.
I do have to say when I was just starting to teach many years ago I use to make everything myself. I had the time and it was fun. Many years have passed and I am involved in several afterschool activities, church and being a mom and wife. That keeps you busy.
I do like to share what I have with my colleagues.
Spending too much! Ways to save!
Submitted by Julie Yoder (not verified) on October 25, 2008 - 07:56.
I am a first grade teacher in a low income school. Most of my students are considered children of poverty. I too feel the need to reach into my own pocket and buy things for my studnets finding that I am spending way too much each year. (Just ask my husband!). I try hard to find ways to save having to spend money. I have went to business and told them what I was doing and have been amazed in the amount of help I have recieved from them. Wal-mart has a program that can help teachers purchase special supplies to aid in education. I was able to get Leap Pads at a reduced price for my centers. Local churches have also bought suppplies at the beginning of the year that we use for students who come in with nothing on the first day of school. I also buy supplies that I use for Christmas gifts for my students. Just about every child is out of glue, crayons, and pencils come Christmas and if your school is like my there is no way parents are going to sent in replacements for them. My students are thrilled to get new supplies. These are just a few ways I try to save money but despite that I am still spending too much! If anyone out there has other way that they save I would be interested in thier ideas as well.
Financial Crisis in Classroom!
Submitted by Travis Duckworth (not verified) on October 1, 2008 - 16:11.
I teach in Miami, Fl at an inner-city school. This is my second year of teaching and I have spent about $300-500 on my students each year. During the first couple of weeks of school, we recieve a approximately $230 to spend on our classroom. However, as we all know that is not nearly enough for what our students need throughout the year. I am continously buying supplies for my classroom as we do not get enough support from our parents. When I am spending my hard (very hard) earned money on my students I just always try to remember, "If I had a child in school, I would want their teacher to do the same if I was in a financial crisis too." I just want to leave my fellow teachers with this last message, we may not benefit from spending on our students and at times we may get frustrated at them, but they appreciate it in the long run when they will always remember that "teacher" who truly cared about them!
Family and Consumer Sciences
Submitted by Adeline M. Brynildsen (not verified) on October 20, 2008 - 04:15.
I teach high school in Avon Grove School district in West Grove PA. We don't get reimbursed by our school district anything we pay for comes out of our pockets. We do get a teaching allowance through taxes of $250. I can tell you I spend at least that if not more in the course of a year, but I'll never see that money come back to me. I do agree with you that if no one else appreicates what we do most of our studens will because by doing things like this we show we care about them.
I too spend some of my own
Submitted by Stacy (not verified) on September 30, 2008 - 21:49.
I too spend some of my own money on classroom supplies and teaching materials. The PTA at my school provides $100 for classroom supplies to each teacher that joins PTA (which is a cost of $8 or $9). I usually spend more than the $100 though. Our school does supply copy paper, white board markers, Vis-a-Vis pens, construction paper, glue sticks, poster board, and other such items for classroom use. It is nice that we do not have to spend money on those items. For the past few years, my school has been able to participate in a program called "Kids in Need" that provides school supplies to schools with a higher poverty level (based on free and reduced lunch levels). Unfortunately, we have not heard anything about this program being offered again this school year. Since I have been able to build up my stock of school supplies, I have spent most of my money during the past couple of years on teaching materials to supplement our curriculum in order to meet the state standards.
How Much is Too Much?
Submitted by Stephanie (not verified) on October 1, 2008 - 11:50.
It is nice to read and see that I am not the only teacher who's school is under funded and is spending money out of my own pocket. Every year I spend about $250 ordering dvds and other supplemental materials. This year I have been contemplating buying an LCD projector to play videos and other things from the internet. I teach history and there are so many interactive activities that I could display. Does anyone know of any discount programs that are available for teachers?
I have an LCD projector and
Submitted by Kevin Curtis (not verified) on October 11, 2008 - 16:43.
I have an LCD projector and often show videos in short clips via Discovery streaming and PBS for teachers website. It is a savior. I also teach history but to high school kids. Often times, when we are talking about a particular issue I can immediately bring up a 5-10 min. clip and we will watch it and move on. I currently have seniors and gov't. My projector, along with many excellent news sites on the internet, have been able to watch edited clips of the many debates that have taken place. This is perfect b/c we can watch the candidates reactions to the issues that we discuss in class. I highly suggest getting a projector for your class. I would try to get some funding from your librarian, school district or inquire on possible grants. The good ones aren't cheap.
Classroom Spending
Submitted by Ann-Margaret Pedro-Lewis (not verified) on September 30, 2008 - 14:51.
Our district, located in Pennsylvania, also supplies each classroom with a $250.00 allowance. I know that I spend more than that every school year. I always feel that the students should all start the school year on an even playing field. I make sure that I supply all of their notebooks, pencils, pencil boxes, crayons, and any other items I deem necessary to make our school year a successful one.
I also purchase most of my whole group and guided reading group books. Yes, there are books that are available in the 4th grade Language Arts closet. Some of the books are older than me and are in terrible condition. I prefer to purchase books that I know the students will enjoy reading.
I don’t mind spending the money. If my students are going to benefit from the purchases then so be it. As educators, we spend so much of our time in the classrooms. It is important that I create an environment that is enjoyable for both the students and me.
Classroom Spending
Submitted by Jackie (not verified) on October 1, 2008 - 14:23.
Ann-
I too am feeling the need to supplement my classroom with newer and more enjoyable books for my students. Too often I find that we are competing with video games and movies, that I need to do whatever possible to get my students involved with reading. I am fortuante to have just been hired as a Reading Teacher for my local school district about 2 and a half weeks ago. Unfortunately, since I was hired late I missed the time when teachers were given money to spend on their classroom. When I asked about it, I was told that I should have everything I need in my classroom. I have quite a bit, but I decided to take it upon myself to buy things that I think will be beneficial for my students. I am already up to about $250.00 in spending of my own money. Before the year is out, I guarentee that I will be close to $500.00. I am young enough where I do not need to worry about a house payment or providing for a family, so I am trying to spend the money now while I can and not have to worry about it when I will need it down the road. *Another important thing is that I hope all of us educators remember that when we go to do taxes we can claim what we spend on our own teaching supplies as a deduction. Hopefully, this will help some of us lighten the burden that we share as teachers trying to provide the best we can for our students.
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