Buying back-to-school supplies: Give parents a break

It's the time of the year to start purchasing back-to-school supplies. But what we are not hearing is that this time-honored ritual will be costing more than it did last year, clearly increasing the financial strain on struggling families. For Long Islanders who have children attending public schools, the question raised is a simple one: With school taxes already high, why aren’t basic classroom supplies included in the annual budget?

Buyers will see a name-brand notebook more than 15% costlier than last year, or school supply packages with less items in the bundle, according to Overhaul, a supply chain risk management company, which noted that basics, like backpacks, lunchboxes, pencils and glue sticks, are imported. 

The National Retail Federation predicts families will likely spend about $858 per child. This cost reaches across multiple back-to-school categories, such as electronics, clothing, shoes and classroom supplies. Teacher Supply Store reports that the national average per child for classroom supplies is $140 per child.

It's the classroom supply category where parents should be able to get some relief from those purchases. New York is the highest-spending state for school supplies purchases in the country, averaging $1,123 per child, according to a survey by Coupon Bird. Community Solidarity, a nonprofit organization bringing awareness to social and economic injustices, highlights how families struggle to purchase the school supplies their children need. In 2024, it noted that the cost to Long Island families for elementary school supplies was an estimated $1,017 per child and approximately $1,668 per high school child.

During these changing economic times, these costs can easily become a burden for many Long Islanders. So, what can families do to lessen this new and rising financial strain?

They should be able to seek relief from their local districts. School officials and teachers need to be collectively sensitive to the financial impact that their wish list of school supplies has on all families. Families with multiple school-age children are exponentially financially stressed when it comes to such purchases. Local PTA groups and nonprofits might be able to help in this area. Teachers can also use crowdsourcing by listing their supply needs publicly and asking for donations. But should teachers really be posting on Amazon's Create a Classroom wish list, where the retailing giant encourages "telling others what you need to create an inspiring learning environment for your student."

It's time for local school districts to do the right thing.

In a midsize Long Island school district of 2,900 students, for example, where the per-pupil expenditure is about $33,000 with an operating budget of over $96 million, picking up the family classroom supply cost of $150 per child represents less than one-half of one percent of the existing expenditure budget. For school officials to provide modest relief here is not a big ask. In addition to reducing the financial stress of families, the supplies purchased by the district provide quality control over those items. It would ensure that all students are fully equipped with the same necessary supplies promoting fairness and equity to all.

While parents will continue to purchase the already high-priced personal items such as school clothing, shoes and sneakers, the tradition of families purchasing classroom supplies must be erased. Parents should not be stressed over financial decisions regarding food, health care and shelter versus school supplies. That latter responsibility should now become the school district’s and not that of the parents.

This guest essay reflects the views of Philip Cicero, retired superintendent of Lynbrook schools.