Helping Teachers When Budgets Fall Short
Learn how to be creative with small budgets and support our kids' teachers.
Dec. 9, 2008— -- Teachers across the country are sacrificing and going to extraordinary lengths to prevent the economy from negatively impacting their students' education. Montgomery County teachers, for instance, agreed to give up their 5 percent pay raise for next year, saving the school district $89 million. Check out these ways to help teachers across the nation.
DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit that brings together public school teachers with people who want to support classroom learning. Teachers submit a project, describing what they need to make their vision happen in the classroom. And many of them are funded. Click here for their teacher resources and to see their frequently asked questions for teachers.
Are you interested in making a donation to a classroom project? You can give any amount -- big or small -- to schools across the country. Click here to learn more about DonorsChoose's ongoing projects, or to make a donation.
iLoveSchools.com is an organization that provides a helping hand to teachers. Like DonorsChoose.org, teachers build WishLists of materials and supplies and donors can offer support for the cost of the teacher's supplies. Click here to search their WishLists -- you can make a donation by city, school, specific needs and more.
Also on their Web site is a list of free resources available to teachers by state to help fill their classrooms.
Gold Star Registry is another online tool for teachers who are trying to cut back on out-of-pocket expenses. On their Web site, teachers can create a wish list of classroom materials from stickers to bulletin supplies, and community members make donations.
Kidsinneed.net is an organization that distributes new or gently used school supplies to needy students and grants awards to teachers for innovative projects. Click here to learn more about their national network of free school supplies and information on making a donation.
The Pencil Box is an organization that helps public schools in New York City get computers, furniture, science equipment and more resources that are in high demand; you can make a donation by visiting their Web site. Chicago Public Schools keep track of what various local schools need on their Web site. Click here to learn about opportunities.