Teachers vs. inflation: 83% struggling to afford essential back-to-school supplies in 2024

School is back in session and many teachers are already facing growing financial challenges, Study.com reports. 83% of educators, up from 69% in 2023, report that inflation has made it harder to buy necessary classroom supplies. This increase sheds light on a growing issue in education: rising costs and flat salaries are leaving teachers struggling to support their classrooms.

A report from the National Education Association indicates that this problem is widespread and shows that teacher salaries, when adjusted for inflation, have decreased by 5% over the last decade, reducing their buying power significantly. In 2020, Teachers spent an average of $459 out of their own pockets on supplies each year, on top of the unaccounted fees of cleaning supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Economic Policy Institute, with zero reimbursement.

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