Teachers spent an average of $479 out of their own pockets on school supplies during the 2014-2015 school year and were not reimbursed, according to USA Today. The number of teachers that said they routinely covered extra expenses in their classroom topped 94 percent of all teachers and exists as one of the only jobs in which the workers themselves are informally expected to pay for necessary items related to performing their role.
While educators can use a tax credit to reduce their taxable income by as much as $250, this amount does not adequately compensate teachers for the extra money they are spending and highlights the fact that the educational system is not sufficiently funded to cover the needs of the children.