Resources, Supplies, Materials, and Equipment — Provided!

Most taxpayers in the U.S. use some version of IRS Form 1040 to file their federal income taxes each year. A significant percentage of filers also deduct expenses, including using Schedule 1 titled “Additional Income and Adjustments to Income”. Might you be able to correctly guess the very first income adjustment listed on that form? Of course you know; it is “Educator Expenses”. You can read more on the IRS topic page but the pertinent sentence is this:

Qualified expenses are amounts you paid or incurred for participation in professional development courses, books, supplies, computer equipment (including related software and services), other equipment, and supplementary materials that you use in the classroom.

It is so common-place, expected almost, that educators will spend their own money for things like supplies, equipment, and materials that our federal government provides a (relatively paltry) $300 deduction and lists it ahead of other categories like healthcare, housing, and retirement that apply to a much higher percentage of tax filers. Is this what we want as a society, that we expect teachers to fund their own profession like we all expect to pay mortgage interest for a home loan?

The details certainly matter in schools and districts nationwide but the crux of the issue is school leadership. Do the superintendents setting district budgets and the principals allocating school funds make it a priority that teachers have everything needed to teach students in a highly proficient way — provided by the district/school?

As an educator and a parent, I am pleased to ensure mine and my children’s teachers have an abundance of Kleenex tissues (the good ones) for the entirety of the year. However, teachers should never have to beg for copy paper, dry erase markers, pencils, or other requisite supplies, materials, or equipment. This is entirely a leadership issue!

Teachers spend their own money to purchase these items because they need them. An excellent principal realizes this and works to satisfy that need with school (or district or community or grant) funds.

Wherever you are in your school leadership journey, we can partner with you to achieve your goals and aspirations as a professional educator.