Buzz
In the United States, where priorities often appear misaligned, public school educators are spending an average of $479 annually of their personal funds on classroom supplies, as reported by the Education Department. Around 7% of teachers are spending more than $1,000 per year.
It’s Freshman Orientation Week at Mytour! This week, we’re diving into strategies to transition from the lazy days of summer to a busy fall, whether you’re starting college, preparing your children for school, or just seeking ways to boost productivity in the classroom of life. So grab your Trapper Keepers, students. Class is officially in session.
The average amount spent is even greater for teachers working in underfunded areas across the country. If you’re interested in lending a hand this school year, here are a few ideas:
Contribute directly to individual teachers
Public school teachers nationwide use platforms like DonorsChoose.org and AdoptAClassroom.org to raise funds for various projects. Currently, there are thousands of classrooms seeking support, many needing less than $100 to be fully funded. You can search for schools in your area if you'd like to assist local institutions.
Common requests include classroom books, basic supplies like pens, and technology such as tablets and smartboards.
Clear Lunch Debt
In a great example of social media’s power for good, in 2016, writer Ashley Ford raised over $100,000 through a single tweet to help eliminate students' lunch debt. You can follow her example.
As reported by CNBC, children unable to afford regular lunches are often served basic meals like cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a carton of milk. These students often have to stand in a separate line, which makes their financial hardship apparent to other classmates. Contact your local school and see how you can contribute to this cause.
You can also get in touch with your local food bank to support students experiencing poverty. Feeding America runs a BackPack program that directly addresses this issue. Additionally, Real School Gardens is an organization that collaborates with school districts to create community gardens and educate students about environmental sustainability.
As Ford mentions in the article, covering lunch debt is just one way to help—another way is to check if the school needs assistance with uniforms for its economically disadvantaged students.
Contribute to Your School District
Reach out to your local school district or parent-teacher organization to inquire whether there are funds set aside for various initiatives. You could also attend the upcoming school board meeting to learn about the topics local officials are addressing.
You can also lend support to the school's library (or your local library). As Donor Choose highlights, libraries serve as vital educational resources for low-income students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to the internet, certain books, and other educational materials.
