PA ranks high in spending on back-to-school supplies by parents, teachers

Pennsylvania ranks No. 5 in the nation for spending on back-to-school shopping. And it ranks No. 1 for what teachers spend from their own wallets to fund classroom supplies.

Overall, parents and teachers in the US are expected to spend significantly more than in 2024, according to research by the coupon site CouponBirds.

How much will parents spend?

On average, families are now shelling out $774 per child for back-to-school gear — marking a 10% rise from last year’s spending.

States where parents spend the most on school supplies (Top 10)

• New York – $1,348
• California – $1,304
• Florida – $1,237
• Massachusetts – $1,218
• Pennsylvania – $1,133
• Connecticut – $1,121
• North Carolina – $1,073
• Washington – $1,045
• Texas – $1,032
• Ohio – $1,026

States where parents spend the least

• Louisiana – $327
• Mississippi – $356
• Kansas – $373
• North Dakota – $451
• Oklahoma – $483
• Wyoming – $484
• Delaware – $494
• Vermont – $500
• Hawaii – $501
• Alaska – $513

What are teachers spending?

Teachers are now covering about $1,021 annually from their own wallets to fund classroom supplies — a notable rise from the $915 they spent in 2024. To help manage these growing costs, 30% of educators have taken on second jobs, up from 26% the previous year.

What teachers are buying (out-of-pocket)

• Classroom consumables (paper, pencils, etc.)
• Decorations
• Educational tools (books, games)
• Snacks
• Cleaning & first-aid supplies

Ninety-five percent of teachers surveyed by CouponBirds said they regularly use personal funds for classroom items. Thirty percent have taken side jobs to cover these costs, and 82% say cutting back would harm student learning.

States where teachers spend the most

• Pennsylvania – $1,637
• North Carolina – $1,632
• Arizona – $1,581
• Texas – $1,550
• Missouri – $1,527
• Hawaii – $1,454
• Indiana – $1,445
• California – $1,444
• New York – $1,397
• Alaska – $1,288

States where teachers spend the least

• Nebraska – $473
• West Virginia – $502
• Oklahoma – $545
• Louisiana – $565
• South Dakota – $569
• Idaho – $632
• North Dakota – $725
• Montana – $779
• Iowa – $782
• Delaware – $789

Tips to save on school supplies

For parents:

• Shop dollar stores.
• Use online coupons.
• Wait for September clearance sales.

For teachers:

• Look for teacher discount programs.
• Join teacher swap groups on Facebook.
• Check out local “free teacher” supply stores.
• Create and share online wishlists early.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: PA ranks high in spending on back-to-school supplies by parents, teachers

Reporting by Erin Jones, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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