Teachers spend an average of $926 for classroom supplies
PEOPLE IN THE STATE REACH OUT
TO 9, 8,
8 EVERY MONTH.
>> GET THIS. THE AVERAGE WAKE
COUNTY TEACHER SAYS THEY PAY
MORE THAN $900 OF THEIR OWN
MONEY ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES EVERY
SINGLE YEAR STATE FUNDING FOR
SCHOOL SUPPLIES HAS ALSO BEEN
DECLINING FOR MORE THAN A
DECADE. WRAL'S. KELSEY COFFEY
IS JOINING US LIVE FROM TOOLS
FOR SCHOOLS TO EXPLAIN HOW
TEACHERS ARE WORKING TO MEET
THE GREAT NEED. KELSEY.
>> LEAN AS PRICES CONTINUE TO
GO UP STATE FUNDING FORCE
STATES UPS SCOTT CAN USE TO
GO DOWN FOR ITEMS LIKE THIS
MECHANICAL PENCILS WILL RIGHT
NOW. THIS COULD COST YOU ABOUT
$11 TO BUY IN BULK. THAT IS
15% HIGHER. THEN LAST YEAR AND
MANY TEACHERS ARE FORCED TO
FOOT THE BILL.
>> I'M JUST I JUST FINISHED MY
FIRST YEAR FOR MILLBROOK HIGH
TEACHER TRAINING WOODS TEACHING
IS MORE THAN A JOB. IT'S HIS
PASSION.
>> I LOVE MY IT'S WHAT I THAT'S
ALWAYS WHAT I WANTED TO GROWING
UP AND SHOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT DOES IS
EVERYTHING I CAN IMAGINE.
WOODS DIDN'T BECOME A TEACHER
FOR THE PAYCHECK, BUT HE NEVER
ANTICIPATED HOW MUCH MONEY HE
WOULD HAVE TO SPEND TO DO IS
OWN JOB. THERE WAS A BIG START
UP COST TO GET EVERYTHING
READY. WHENEVER I STARTED
TEACHING IN AUGUST. SO WAS THAT
SORT OF COST? I MUST HAVE BEEN.
400 BLOCKS STATE FUNDING FOR
SCHOOL SUPPLIES HAS BEEN
DECLINING.
>> THE FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT IN
HALF SINCE 2011 FROM $61 PER
STUDENT TO ABOUT $30 PER
STUDENT THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL
YEAR. MONEY ALSO COMES FROM
OTHER SOURCES LIKE COUNTY
FUNDING AND GRANTS. AND THIS IS
WHERE ALL THE TEACHERS COME IN
THE SHOP, BUT POSTING WITH THE
WAKE ED PARTNERSHIP SAYS THAT'S
STILL NOT ENOUGH. IT'S A LOT OF
TEACHERS WILL GO SHOPPING FOR
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR
THEIR OWN KIDS.
>> AND ONE CAR AND THEN THEY'VE
GOT ANOTHER CAR WITH THEIR
BUYING THE SAME THINGS FOR
THEIR CLASSROOM. TOOLS FOR
SCHOOLS IS HELPING MEET THE
NEED.
>> IT'S A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR
TEACHERS TO GET SCHOOL SUPPLIES
AT NO COST STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
ARE WORKING HERE THIS SUMMER TO
SUPPORT TEACHERS AHEAD OF THE
FALL. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT
GIVE BACK TO THEM. MAKE SURE
THAT
>> THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO
BE ABLE TO TEACH US AND EFFORT.
WOODS IS GRATEFUL FOR AT HAVE
NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT
WANT TO SUPPORT US FOR FREE
>> IT'S AWESOME BUT ONLY A
TEMPORARY SOLUTION. TO A
LONG-TERM PROBLEM.
AND STATE LAWMAKERS CAN DECIDE
TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO NEXT
YEAR'S BUDGET. BUT IN THE
MEANTIME, TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS
WILL BE OPEN FOR TEACHERS TO
COME SHOP HERE, STARTING IN
AUGUST.
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
HOW TO DONATE, YOU CAN GO TO