Struggles persist for NYC parents and teachers as they grapple with increasing costs for school supplies due to tariffs and price escalations.
In the heart of the city that never sleeps, the new school year is bringing a fresh set of challenges. With school supply prices reaching an all-time high, many families and educators are feeling the strain.
Sapreet Saluja, the executive director of the nonprofit New York Cares, has expressed concern about the rising costs, stating that they are forcing her team to reconsider their annual Stand With Students campaign. Organisations that donate school supplies for families in need are finding themselves stretched thinner as the number of people in need rises.
The increased costs are particularly impacting low-income families. Federal cuts have reduced the amount of support these families are receiving for expenses including food and housing, making the high prices of school supplies even more burdensome.
Teachers like Sarah Yunus, a fifth-grade teacher in the East Village, are feeling the pinch. Yunus, who receives $200 from the City Council to spend on classroom supplies at the start of the school year, expects to run out of funds by spring and often resorts to using her own money to provide for her students.
Parents are making tough decisions between groceries and school supplies. Julianna Sanchez, a Flatbush resident, is making her 14-year-old son reuse notebooks from the previous school year due to the high prices of new school supplies. Karen Lawson, a Southeast Queens resident, is worried about the costs of school supplies as her 4-year-old twins start pre-K and grow older.
The higher prices are attributed to the 30% tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on imports from China. The tariffs affect nearly everything children need for school, from pencils and notebooks to scissors and looseleaf paper. This year, schools are giving kids looseleaf paper instead of a pencil sharpener and scissors, and putting fewer pencils and pens in each backpack.
Yunus has reached out to parents who can afford to help and has also created an Amazon wish list. However, the process of requesting additional supplies from her school is lengthy and she often can't wait.
Organisations in New York that try to support families unable to afford rising costs for school supplies include local nonprofits and community groups. More specialized local charities or school district programs typically offer such support.
Despite the challenges, Yunus believes a box of pencils can make a significant difference in her classroom. If the reused notebooks run out, she plans to use printer paper for her son's schoolwork. For many teachers and parents, the start of the new school year is a reminder of the importance of coming together to support our children's education.
