Schools Are Responsible For Providing School Supplies — Not Parents

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 9/4/2012 | Michael Van Beek

[MichCapCon]

It’s that time of year again: Back-to-school deal hunting season.

Hoping to give their kids every possible advantage, millions of Michigan parents will flock to nearby retailers for new school supplies. But before loading up on notebooks, pencils and crayons, parents should remember that their local public school is required by law to supply these necessities to every student free of charge.

The details are laid out in a 2011 Michigan Department of Education memo listing specifically what supplies schools must provide, including pencils, paper, crayons, scissors and glue sticks. In addition, school districts may not charge for registration or any course fees, even for elective courses.

Yet many parents remain unaware that the tax dollars tendered by themselves and their neighbors have already paid for these school supplies. Some school districts improperly suggest that parents are responsible for these supplies. According to the 2012 Huntington Backpack Index, parents will spend between $548 and $1,117 on school supplies and fees for each student on average.

The rationale for requiring school districts to provide these basic supplies is language in the state Constitution requiring the Legislature to “maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law.” The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that basic school supplies fall under this definition.

So before parents hit the stores, they should beware of paying a second time for supplies they have already funded.

[SCalGal]

I would have to look this one up, but I have a feeling that requirement is for elementary schools only.

I don't need to look it up. It's called FAPE: Free and Appropriate Public Education. That means they can't require that you supply so much as one single pencil. You already pay enough taxes - the schools are supposed to provide all the supplies needed from that.

[This I Wonder32460]

When I went to school, in the elementary years they provided basically everything. Then starting in Jr. High through High School (grades 7-12) we needed to supply our own notebooks, pens and pencils to take study notes during class. That was the 60’s and 70’s. When first child started kindergarten in the 90’s, I had to supply crayons, pencils, erasers, markers and a box of tissues for runny noses. This continued through grade 4. Then in Middle School, which starts at grade 5, they needed notebooks, pens, pencils, and a calculator. Basically all the same through grade 12. Though I noticed a change after the first few years, suddenly the teachers were very specific in what type of notebooks they wanted (demanded) the students use, such as a 1 or 2 inch binder with a certain type of paper plus divide, etc. And some classes required special supplies like graph paper and scientific calculators (big money items). Oh and I never remember ever encountering “poster board” when I was in school. And the first time one of my kids needed it for a project, I had no idea what it was. Now I keep extra on hand and Lord knows how much of poster board, I’ve purchased over the years. Anyways, the amount of notebooks, other supplies and books my poor children had to carry in their backpacks was totally ridiculous. If I had my way they would have been home schooled. But, my husband would never have allowed such a thing, he believes that school is where children should be educated. Though both of us can’t wait until our youngest graduates. We’re almost there.

[Westbrook]

> Please do not put names on the supplies, they will be kept
> in my desk and distributed on an as-needed basis to all
> kids in the class.

Yes, of course. It’s a collective, after all.

Ask your grandchildren the difference between a collective and a cooperative.

Hint: one of them is compulsory and the other is voluntary.