– Updated September 21, 2021 –
General Overview
What is the policy change?
Effective February 1, 2019, the school listed on the teacher’s AdoptAClassroom.org classroom page when an order is placed will be deemed to be the owner of any materials donated through AdoptAClassroom.org. Schools and districts may also request a full list of items ordered, listed by teacher. (Previously, AdoptAClassroom.org’s policy was that ownership of materials was with the teacher, and reporting was not available to schools or districts).
Why is this policy change necessary?
This change was made in response to new school district policies implemented over the past several years that have prevented teachers from using AdoptAClassroom.org’s services due to our ownership of materials policy. Also, the crowdfunding best practice guidelines published by the AASA: The Schools Superintendents Association, specifically referenced this ownership of materials policy as a key criteria for acceptable crowdfunding tools to be used by teachers.
In order to ensure that AdoptAClassroom.org remains available to as many teachers as possible, we felt that it was important for us to alter our policy to comply with AASA guidelines, and with the changing policies of school districts across the country.
We know that many schools and districts do allow teachers to own the supplies they fundraise to obtain, and to take those supplies with them in the event that they change schools. While other schools and districts would like to keep these items for the next teacher they employ. Our new policy leaves that final decision to school administrators to do what is right for their own teachers, schools and districts.
How was this decision made to change the policy?
AdoptAClassroom.org made this decision in fall 2018 after careful consideration and with input from our staff, Board of Directors, and our Teacher Advisory Board.
When will this policy change take effect?
The new policy will apply to all teacher orders placed on or after February 1, 2019. Orders placed through AdoptAClassroom.org prior to that date will be subject to our old policy, with ownership of materials deemed to be with the teacher.
Teachers
What happens to my supplies if I change schools?
Any unspent donation(s) in your AdoptAClassroom.org account can still be used by you if you change schools, except in the case where a donor or sponsor communicates to AdoptAClassroom.org in advance the donation was only intended for an educator at the specified school. Once supplies are ordered, they belong to the school they were shipped to. We suggest that teachers speak with their school principal to determine whether materials they ordered through AdoptAClassroom.org after February 1, 2019 may be taken with them if they are no longer employed by that school.
Donors/Sponsors
What happens if the teacher/educator I gave to is no longer at the school listed on their page when I donated?
All educators must agree to the AdoptAClassroom.org Terms of Use that they will maintain an accurate classroom profile, including their current school. AdoptAClassroom.org cannot guarantee that all educators still work at the school listed, but we are happy to contact the school on a donor’s behalf, upon your request, to confirm that the educator is currently employed there before the donation is processed.
Once a donation is processed, the funds will generally follow the educator to their next school, unless their donor or sponsor communicates to AdoptAClassroom.org in advance the donation is intended only for an educator at the specified school. Supplies ordered by the teacher are shipped to their current school and are deemed to be the property of the school they were shipped to. Contact [email protected] if you have questions.
For donors who would like to ensure a donation will benefit a school specifically, they may do so through the AdoptAClassroom.org School Program.
School Admin/Principal/Districts
One of our teachers/educators is no longer employed here. Can we move their donation?
All teachers must agree to the AdoptAClassroom.org Terms of Use that they will maintain an accurate classroom profile, including their current school.
Once a donation is processed, the funds will generally follow the teacher/educator to their next school. In the case where an educator moved schools and the school would like to give their donation to their replacement educator, we can move a donation with the educator’s written consent via email from the address associated with their AdoptAClassroom.org account. In the case of the school requesting we move donated funds, it is the educator’s decision if they would prefer to keep the donation to use for supplies at their new school. If a Sponsor or Donor communicates to AdoptAClassroom.org in advance the donation is intended only for an educator at the specified school, then AAC can move the funds without educator permission per our Terms of Use.
Supplies ordered by the educator are shipped to their current school and are the property of the school they were shipped to.
In the case a donor would like to give to benefit a school specifically, they can do so through the AdoptAClassroom.org School Program.
How do I request a list of items purchased by our teachers?
As of February 1, 2019, upon request we can provide schools with a list of all materials purchased listed by teacher. Please contact [email protected] to request this report.