Follow INSIDER on Facebook.
Nearly every teacher has paid for classroom supplies at some point in their career. Here are the 17 states where they've spent the most.
- 94% of public school teachers reportedly dipped into their own funds to pay for class supplies between 2014 and 2015.
- On average, teachers spent $479 out of pocket, with nearly 10% reportedly spending more than $1,000.
- INSIDER analyzed 2008 Department of Education data on teacher expenditures and adjusted for inflation to figure out where teachers are spending the most on classroom supplies.
- Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.
Advertisement
With the summer coming to a close, students all around the country are busily being bombarded by back to school sales and summer reading deadlines. When many of those students finally sit down for their first days of class, however, they may find their bookshelves empty, and the supply cabinets bare. And teachers are often stepping up to solve the problem.
Between 2014 and 2015 it's estimated that 94% of all US public school teachers paid out of pocket for classroom supplies. Nationwide, these teachers spent $479 on average with nearly 10% reportedly dishing out over $1,000 according to survey data released by the National Center for Education Statistics. A survey by Scholastic found that teachers often spend their money on products that might seem standard to an outside observer. Some of the most common classroom materials teachers purchase include room decorations, notebooks and binders, snacks for students, and other essentials like tissues or Band-Aids.
Last week, INSIDER analyzed IRS data to determine which states had the highest percentage of teachers paying out of pocket. Now INSIDER is looking at where teachers spend the most. To find out, INSIDER analyzed National Center for Education Statistics data from 2008. The NCES is responsible for providing and publishing useful data on the US education system; their last survey on teachers purchasing school supplies was in 2008.
To account for this, INSIDER adjusted the 2008 data for inflation and the change in per-student state spending from 2008 to 2016. Much can change in a decade and it's likely out of pocket expenses for teachers haven't remained completely consistent through that time. With the data currently available, this ranking should still serve as a good estimate.
Advertisement
Continue scrolling below to see the 17 states where teachers spend the most out of pocket on classroom supplies.
North Carolina legislators proposed a bill earlier this year which would give licensed public school teachers $400 dollars to help pay for school supplies.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $49,837
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $404,208,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $13,373
Sources: Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
In 2013 state legislators passed the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program, which provides every licensed public school teacher in the state with a debit card to help pay for select classroom supplies. The amount of funds available to teachers vary by district.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $49,407
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $487,810,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $8,920
Sources: Florida Department of Education, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Average teacher salary in 2016: $77,804
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $277,803,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $15,593
Sources: Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Missouri will reimburse teachers for up to $250 of their out of pocket expenses. Two bills currently being proposed aim to increase that number to $750.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $48,293
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $358,768,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $10,313
Sources: Columbia Missourian, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
The Mississippi Department of Education uses "Educational Enhancement Funds" to help teachers pay for classroom supplies. Teachers receive procurement cards at the beginning of every school year which cover, on average, $350 worth of funds.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $42,925
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $102,866,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $8,702
Sources: Mississippi Department of Education, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Earlier this year, Ohio senator Stephanie Kunze proposed a tax break that would allow teachers to be reimbursed for up to $500 worth of supplies they purchased with their own money.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $57,000
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $459,953,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $12,102
Sources: The Cincinnati Enquirer, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Kelly Finlaw, a New York City middle school art teacher, told INSIDER she uses her own funds to pay for her students' art supplies at least once per week.
"There are multiple times where I go to Staples in my lunch period and buy pencils," Finlaw said. "When a kid needs a specific colored pencil for a project or a specific marker, that is what I'll do with my weekend. I will go to Michaels and buy that color."
Average teacher salary in 2016: $79,637
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $729,050,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $22,366
Sources: Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Rhode Island state representative William O'Brien is trying to introduce a "teachers bill of rights," which would legally ensure teachers wouldn't have to pay for supplies out of their own pockets.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $66,477
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $23,693,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $15,532
Sources: NBC Turn to 10, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Many cash-strapped Colorado teachers use a service called the Resource Area for Teachers, which purchases classroom supplies in bulk and sells them to teachers for up to 90% off the original value.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $46,506
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: 304,275,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $9,575
Sources: Denver Post, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Earlier this year, Arizona representative John Fillmore sponsored legislation that, if passed, would provide teachers with a $1,000 state tax credit to help pay for classroom supplies. The bill, called HB 2034, is intended to "reduce the financial burden on school teachers who personally purchase educational supplies and materials that are used in the teacher's classroom and uniforms and clothing that are used for educational purposes."
Average teacher salary in 2016: $47,403
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $194,855,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $7,613
Sources: Teacher Supply Swap, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Teachers who qualify for New Mexico's Teacher's Supply Program are given a $100 Visa prepaid debit card to purchase school supplies.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $47,500
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $105,846,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $9,693
Sources: Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Earlier this year, Arizona representative John Fillmore sponsored legislation that, if passed, would provide teachers with a $1,000 state tax credit to help pay for classroom supplies. The bill, called HB 2034, is intended to "reduce the financial burden on schoolteachers who personally purchase educational supplies and materials that are used in the teacher's classroom and uniforms and clothing that are used for educational purposes."
Average teacher salary in 2016: $47,403
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $194,855,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $7,613
Sources: Associated Press, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
A new bill being proposed in the Michigan Senate would provide a tax credit of up to $1,000 for teachers who end up paying out of pocket for classroom supplies.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $62,200
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $254,201,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $11,668
Sources: WLNS, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Since 2015, over 24,000 Nevada teachers have qualified for a reimbursement of up to $250 if they spend their own money on classroom supplies.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $57,376
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $140,144,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $8,960
Sources: Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
In a poll released by the Hawaii State Teachers Association, 47 percent of Hawaiian teachers said they spent between $250 and $500 on classroom materials. A new bill being proposed would let teachers write off notebooks, pencils, books, and other classroom materials as a tax deduction.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $57,674
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $73,434,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $13,748
Sources: Hawaii News Now, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Alaskan teachers have also relied heavily on the crowdfunding site DonorsChoose. According to a report released last year by The Anchorage Daily News, about 4% of Alaskan public school teachers had at least one major school project funded entirely from the website.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $68,138
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $56,348,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $17,510
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Despite having one of the highest teacher salaries in the nation, California public school teachers still routinely find themselves paying for basic school supplies. Earlier this year, Californian assembly member Steven Choi introduced a bill that would slightly ease that burden by offering a $250 tax break to teachers who spent their own money on books, supplies, computer equipment, or supplementary materials.
Average teacher salary in 2016: $78,711
Total amount state spent on school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, and other materials for classroom study during the 2016 school year: $2,185,023,000
Average state spending per student in 2016: $11,495
Sources: CBS 13, Internal Revenue Service, National Center for Education Statistics, Governing.com
Advertisement