Messenger Boy

Public school teachers spent $1.3 billion out of pocket on classroom expenses in the 2009-2010 school year, according to a National School Supply and Equipment Association study. Educators indicate they spent both on classroom supplies and instructional materials. Read the full story in The Journal, a publication geared toward changing education through emerging technology. Given that bulging price tag, you’d think we were seeing peak spending for teachers, but this $1.3 billion actually speaks to a decline in teacher expenditure: from $552 in 2005-2006 school year to $395 in 2007-2008.

In a speech in Austin, Texas, on August, 9, 2010, Obama stated that “Education is an economic issue.” This proves that and then some, but he was speaking about boosting college education in the United States to put the country back on the international higher-ed map.  But if our teachers are being forced to pay out of pocket expenses for services that should be supplanted by the government, how can we expect this hope on hopes of nationwide education to come to fruition.

What teacher expense assistance is there, either in the form of grants, loans, or nonprofit programs? Add any ideas here.