(WNY News Now) – New York – As families gear up for the school year, the excitement of new beginnings is mixed with the strain of rising back-to-school expenses, sparking calls for relief from lawmakers.
As summer winds down, students, teachers, and parents across New York are preparing for the start of a new school year. This season is filled with excitement as students reconnect with friends, adjust to new grade levels, and embrace the challenges of a fresh academic year. However, this time of year also brings financial stress, with back-to-school expenses adding pressure to household budgets.
The National Retail Federation reports that the average family spent $875 on school supplies last year, a figure expected to rise in 2024 due to inflation. In response, lawmakers, including Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, are advocating for measures to ease this burden on families.
The Assembly Republican Conference is committed to helping students, teachers and families deal with today’s rising costs, and we have introduced measures to directly reduce education-related expenses. Some of these proposals include:
- Educator Expense Assistance Act: Provides educators with a personal income tax deduction of up to $300 of unreimbursed expenses from the taxable year for books, supplies, computer equipment (including related software and services) and supplementary classroom materials (A.10157, Blumencranz);
- Teacher Tax Credit: Provides a $500 tax credit to teachers who contribute and/or purchase supplies, pay for field trip costs and help with student expenses (A.5440, Palmesano);
- College Supplies Tax Deduction: Establishes college supplies as a tax-deductible expense (A.5417, Barclay); and
- College Student Expense Tax Credit: Provides New York residents a personal income tax credit of up to $1,000 for college expenses including textbooks and laptops (A.6005, Fitzpatrick).
There are also local community programs that partner with businesses and organizations to distribute free or reduced-cost school supplies, clothing drives and other resources to assist families in need. In the 120th Assembly District, one of those efforts is the United Way of Greater Oswego County Stuff-A-Bus program. In 2023, they collected 33,415 school supplies that helped send 1,730 students back to school prepared and ready to learn.
As the school year begins, safety remains a top priority. With 50,000 vehicles passing stopped school buses daily in New York, drivers are urged to be cautious around school zones to ensure students’ safety.
The start of each school year is a chance for students to explore new opportunities and achieve academic success. With support from communities and lawmakers, families are hopeful for a successful year ahead.
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