In May 2022, U.S. inflation rose to the highest level since 1981. AdoptAClassroom.org surveyed 4,103 PreK-12 teachers in May 2022 and found that they’re facing an increased financial burden. Inflation will also hurt classrooms this upcoming school year.
Ninety-six percent of survey respondents said that rising costs are negatively impacting their classroom’s access to school supplies. In 2021, U.S. teachers were already spending an average of $750 out-of-pocket each year to provide their students with learning materials due to shrinking classroom budgets.
“With the prices rising for school supplies and materials for the classroom, I could really use the extra support in school supplies and classroom materials. I have a family to supply for and buying the extra things that my students need gets really costly.”
– 2022 Spring Teacher Survey Respondent
Inflation’s Impact on School Supply Costs
As a result of the pandemic and continuous supply-chain issues, classroom material costs have risen dramatically. Since 2020, the cost of pencils has increased by 40%. A ream of paper is up nearly 60%.
As U.S. inflation rises, parents are struggling to afford school supplies for their children. When asked how the economy has impacted their students this year, 80% of respondents said that students’ families are having a harder time paying for school supplies.
If parents cannot afford supplies, who suffers? Our teachers and students, because they don’t have the resources that they need for success in the classroom. Fifty-two percent of teachers said one of the biggest challenges their students will face in the upcoming school year is not having access to the basic classroom materials they need to learn.
How to Help Classrooms During High U.S. Inflation
Although U.S. inflation is rapidly impacting education, your tax-deductible donation through AdoptAClassroom.org helps teachers struggling to provide their students with school supplies. Your donation allows teachers to purchase the classroom materials they need to support their students so they don’t go without.
Here’s one of countless stories shared by teachers whose classrooms were supported by AdoptAClassroom.org donors this year:
“Your support and funding for all we ask for is so beneficial to our students. Without it many of our classrooms would have even less than we currently have. I can’t thank you enough for valuing what we do as educators. Your donations help me give my students what they need that my school district and I cannot afford.”
– 2022 Spring Teacher Survey Respondent
About AdoptAClassroom.org
AdoptAClassroom.org is a national nonprofit that provides classroom funding to PreK-12 teachers and schools throughout the U.S. Educators can use donations they receive through AdoptAClassroom.org to purchase the school supplies their students need to learn.
Since 1998, we’ve raised more than $57 million and funded more than 250,000 classrooms. AdoptAClassroom.org holds the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for 10 consecutive years and the highest transparency rating offered by GuideStar.
Make a donation to combat rising U.S. inflation for teachers by providing them with the funding they need to purchase school supplies for their students.
Check out these other recent surveys of AdoptAClassroom.org teachers:
2021 Teacher Spending Survey | 2022 State of Teaching Survey