This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a nonprofit news publication investigating power in New York. Sign up for their newsletter here.
NEW YORK STATE · August 14, 2024
Are You a New York Teacher Spending Your Own Money on School Supplies?
We’re collecting stories from teachers across the state.
By Bianca Fortis , New York Focus
Year after year, teachers in New York have had to fill in the gap left by their schools’ thin budgets for expenses as essential as classroom supplies.
During the 2019–2020 school year, New York teachers spent an average of $463 on school supplies, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Ninety-five percent of them purchased supplies with their own money. Some turned to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe and Donors Choose to cover the cost of basic items like crayons, pencils, and snacks for their students.
New York Focus wants to know how teachers are preparing for the 2024–2025 school year. In partnership with Chalkbeat New York, we’re collecting stories from educators around the state.
Are you a teacher purchasing school supplies out-of-pocket? How much do you plan to spend? Fill out the form below, and let us know if we can connect with you.