Every school year, teachers are required to spend their own money to acquire essential items for their classrooms, including pens, pencils and paper. The unreasonable expectation school districts place on teachers to provide their students with basic school supplies must be addressed; they are already underpaid and this standard can incur additional stress on the educators.

School supplies can be expensive. According to the National Education Association, teachers, on average, spend roughly $500-750 of their own money on supplies for their students each year. This is clearly too much for teachers to be spending out of their own pockets, especially considering their already low salaries. Investopedia.com found that teachers are paid about 26.9% less than other full-time workers with similar education levels.

“I buy basic supplies like tissues and pencils for my students so they can pay attention in my class, but with rent, I don’t have a lot left over,” social studies teacher Keith Zalman said.

With limited school budgets and rising costs, these out-of-pocket expenses add up, creating financial stress for educators already balancing bills.

Nearly 90% of teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies, and with prices up 20% since 2020, many are struggling to cover both student needs and their own rent.

“Many teachers are already struggling to pay their bills and basic needs,” geometry teacher Lauren Bender said. “I do not feel it is appropriate for teachers to pay for school supplies for their students.”

School districts should cover the costs of supplies. Teachers already go above and beyond for their students, often advising clubs and working/grading for hours at home without any additional pay. Having teachers deal with additional costs adds unnecessary strain. Teachers often feel guilty and stressed because they cannot always give their students what they need.

If more funding were prioritized for class supplies, teachers would be unburdened by the weight of unfair additional costs. They would be able to focus more on the quality of their teaching and less on budgeting for school supplies and other necessary personal expenses. Education is a public service, and just like roads and hospitals, it should be properly funded by the state to make sure every student has what they need.

At the end of the day, communities, school districts and policymakers all have a role to play in making sure teachers have the materials they need without extra stress. Investing in classrooms will help students’ futures, families and society as a whole. Supporting teachers means supporting education for students.

Students deserve classrooms that are fully supplied and teachers deserve the respect of knowing they do not have to spend their own money to make that happen. Making sure schools have enough money for supplies not only takes the burden off of teachers, but gives all students access to what they need.