Access to school supplies is one of the greatest issues in education of our time.
Today it’s normal for there to never be enough.
If you were to go into 10 random classrooms across the country, 8 of the teachers you talk to would tell you they have at least one student who relies on them for food, hygiene items, and/or school supplies. 8 out of 10 teachers say they use their own money to buy basic supplies for students.
Teachers shouldn’t cover the cost of inadequate education funding, but they do. When there aren’t enough supplies, students pay the price with their future.
Your gift to AdoptAClassroom.org provides students across the country with the tools they need to learn.
Lack of school supplies is a serious issue in education.
Having the right tools has far reaching impacts for student outcomes.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation’s Report Card, is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America’s students know and can do in various subject areas.
NAEP examines the changing landscape of education and how it shapes student outcomes.
In a recent review, they found that reading for pleasure is correlated with better student outcomes.
Fifty-one percent of 13-year-old students scoring at or above the 75th percentile in 2023 reported that they read for fun on their own time at least once a week. 28 percent of 13-year-old students scoring below the 25th percentile reported doing so.
So, let’s get more books! Like many issues in education, the solution isn’t that simple.
Are the books interesting to students? Do they represent a wide range of experiences and capture the diversity of the classroom community? Even a seemingly well-stocked library can isolate marginalized students and impact their learning.
In a recent The Education Trust review of children’s books, only 32% of the books in their sample featured people of color. Only 2% of the books featured LGBTQ people.
To complicate things further, many books that include representation are often limited in scope. They found that even when people of color are represented in books “almost half…are one-dimensional, portrayed negatively, or do not have agency.”
Keyla, a high school teacher in Georgia saw first-hand what a huge difference diverse books made for her classroom. When it comes to student reading, Keyla always prioritizes student interest. With the support of AdoptAClassroom.org donors, she revamped her classroom library.
She told us, “[AdoptAClassroom.org] allowed me to purchase books for my class that I normally wouldn’t have access to, nor would I have the funds to make such a purchase. I am so very appreciative as my students get so excited when they see the diverse book selection.”
The right supplies can make all the difference.
This isn’t right. Isn’t there a way to help?
Yes! You’re in the right place.
Lack of school supplies is a serious issue in education. Your gift to AdoptAClassroom.org provides students across the country with the tools they need to learn.
81% of teachers say that an increase in funding helps address gaps in their students’ learning environment. Furthermore, 76% said that your donation improves student engagement.
Making a gift today is a simple way to make a lasting change.
We provide flexible access to the supplies classrooms need, when they need them. Your donation to our organization helps us direct resources to the areas that best support high-needs schools while offsetting the financial burden on teachers.
AdoptAClassroom.org is the best way to get supplies to the students who need them. We aren’t just donating pencils or backpacks. Teachers buy what they want, when they need it.