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Boyda, teachers spotlight teacher purchases of classroom supplies

Educators shared their opinion of the Teacher Tax Relief Act, a bill cosponsored by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda that will increase and make permanent the teacher tax deduction.

Current law provides up to a $250 tax deduction for qualified educators who spend their personal funds to purchase classroom supplies.  "Unfortunately, the deduction is scheduled to expire this year, and it is far too small to cover the average teacher's expenditures," Boyda said.  According to a National Education Association (NEA) survey, teachers spend an average of $1,180 a year on supplies such as books, lesson materials, math flash cards, crayons, and other items that help children learn.

Rep. Boyda's legislation, the Teacher Tax Relief Act, would increase the teacher tax deduction to $400 and make it permanent.  The legislation would also expand the deduction to cover out-of-pocket professional development expenses, including teacher training and coursework.

"Teachers are the foundation of public education, and if we truly want to improve education, we must support our teachers," said Boyda, adding that "America targets tax relief as an expression of our national values.  If we allow off-shore tax shelters for big businesses but don't help teachers pay for school supplies, what does that say about our priorities?"

The legislation is currently pending in the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means.

During a news conference at Meadows Elementary in Topeka, second-grade teacher Michele Perez noted "thousands of teachers across Kansas, from Highland to Elkhart, share one common characteristic – they do whatever they can to help their students succeed, even when that means paying out of their own salaries for classroom materials or supplies for students." 

"While this legislation doesn’t solve the problems of under-funding of schools, failing to support real 21st Century learning environments, and it doesn’t fix the need to raise salaries, it DOES demonstrate that we recognize and appreciate the sacrifice and hard work of teachers," said KNEA President Blake West.

"The cost of school supplies combined with other challenges that teachers face today – low salaries, growing class sizes, poor school funding – are driving too many qualified, experienced educators away from the classroom," West said.  "There are no easy answers, but a first step is to help teachers pay the everyday expenses of running a classroom.  The $250 tax deduction helps, but it's too small and it's set to expire.  Rep. Boyda's proposed tax relief goes further.  It's a major legislative priority for teachers."

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