Excerpted from the Spokesman-Review
By Jody Lawrence-Turner
SPOKANE — Tight school budgets and dedication to the job add up to high out-of-pocket classroom expenses for many educators.
Educators who responded to a questionnaire from The Spokesman-Review newspaper reported spending an average of $751 a year on classroom materials above what they are reimbursed from their districts. Nationwide for the 2005-06 school year, educators spent an average of $1,752, one study found.
According to the questionnaire answers, teachers in poorer areas tend to spend more. Teachers spent the most money when they were establishing their classrooms. One teacher said she’s emptied a $10,000 savings account since she started four years ago.
In general, most of the money that educators spent was for books and educational materials — an average of $317 a year.
“When you are planning a lesson and you want them to learn, you come up with an activity and then you decide: Do I want to give them a worksheet or spend money for other items that I think will help with what we are learning?” said Matthew Inman, a science teacher at Shadle Park High School.
Lawmakers realize teachers spend a lot of money out of their own pockets. Last summer, a bill was introduced in Congress to double the federal tax deduction allowed for teachers to $500. Some districts offer professional stipends.
However, many teachers often spend more than their stipend and tax deductions combined to help their students have the best tools and environment for learning.
Story excerpted from the Spokesman-Review. Read the entire story here.