By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO

It’s my favorite time of year, when shopping aisles are once again packed with school supplies from notebooks and No. 2 pencils to graphing calculators and glue sticks. It’s still hard to walk by boxes of crayons, as they call to me.

But not everyone feels that joy. For many families and teachers, back-to-school costs cause significant stress.

The average teacher spends between $500 and $750 of their own money on school supplies for their classroom, according to a recent report from the National Education Association, purchasing paper, writing utensils, online learning subscriptions, lab equipment, classroom snacks, cleaning supplies and more. New teachers faced with building their own classroom materials often have to spend even more. I remember the strain this caused me as young teacher, having to balance out-of-pocket school supply costs with rent and student loan payments. It’s even worse today.

Educators with school-age children of their own face a double-whammy of having to reach into their own pockets to outfit their classrooms with essential supplies while also having to purchase items for their own kids. The average family with children expects to spend nearly $900 during back-to-school season, according to the National Retail Federation.

These challenges are compounded in high-poverty school districts, where school resources are spread thin, and parents can’t afford to buy “suggested” school supplies. As a result, educators must reach even deeper into their pockets to try to provide their students with classroom essentials. Even then, many underpaid teachers working in low-income schools struggle to provide the materials necessary for hands-on student activities, art projects or even basic stationary. This negatively impacts student engagement and success and further perpetuates educational inequities affecting students in higher-poverty areas.

So why do 94% of public school teachers purchase hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year for school supplies? The answer is simple: We believe every student, no matter where they come from or how much money their family has, deserves the opportunity to succeed — and that requires the proper tools to participate in classwork.

However, relying on individual educators to fill the gaps is not sustainable. While inflation is slowing, the cost of school supplies has still increased by over 20% since 2021, according to Deloitte Insights’ annual back-to-school report. Meanwhile, a recent report from Michigan State University shows teachers in our state earn about $17,000 less per year than they did two decades ago, when adjusted for inflation.

We at the Michigan Education Association are continuing to work collaboratively with elected leaders on both sides of the aisle to increase school funding so that no student has to go without the supplies they need to be fully engaged and active learners. While our state has made progress these past few years, there is still much work left to do — especially when it comes to helping students, educators and families in low-income areas.

In the meantime, the MEA is urging parents who are financially able to check in with their children’s new teachers this month and see if there are any supplies they need. Also consider sponsoring a classroom through websites like DonorsChoose.org or looking up local charities that are organizing supply drives for students in need. Operation Backpack, for example, is doing great work across the state in helping provide necessary school supplies for struggling families and schools, as are United Way affiliates throughout Michigan.

In addition, MEA operates a classroom supply fund to purchase and donate supplies for schools most in need. To donate, visit this link.

If you are a parent who needs help with school supplies for your children, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local school district or call 2-1-1 to get connected with local resources.

Let’s support families and educators by helping to ensure every student has the all the supplies they need to fully participate in their own education. Together, we can make this upcoming school year a little brighter for those who need it the most.

Labor Voices

Labor Voices columns are written on a rotating basis by United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, Michigan Education Association President Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights Executive Secretary-Treasurer Tom Lutz and selected Service Employees International Union members.

(Posted as submitted to Detroit News)