Back to school time is here, and parents and students aren’t the only ones stocking up on supplies. It’s no secret that teachers often use their own money to purchase essential classroom items, fund projects, and more. Though schools have typically provided many of these items in the past, budget cuts and funding shortages mean that many teachers now have to foot the bill. In fact, according to Time, most teachers spend $500 per year out of their own pockets on school supplies.

Scholastic’s Teacher & Principal School Report found that teachers in high-poverty areas reported spending 40 percent more than teachers in low-poverty areas — an average of $672 during the past year. When DonorsChoose.org surveyed teachers, the charity found that 84 percent of teachers in the highest-poverty United States schools reported spending their own money to help meet students’ essential needs, such as food, clothing, and hygiene items. With one in five students in the United States living in poverty, teachers play a vital role in filling the gaps: 63 percent of teachers who spent their own money to purchase essential items for their students reported spending more than $100 per year.

Advancement Courses and DonorsChoose.org

Numbers like these are significant, but help is available from resources like DonorsChoose.org, the well-known crowdfunding site whose mission is to “make it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need.”

We are once again proud to announce our third annual campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org. From Aug. 16 to Sept. 29, we will donate 10 percent of all course sales to DonorsChoose.org projects, partnering with the online resource to help students and teachers in need.

Our DonorsChoose.org campaign makes it easier for teachers across the country to access what they need, from supplies to tablets. During the campaign, we’ll donate 10 percent of every purchase to DonorsChoose.org projects — with new projects funded every day. To participate, use the promo code GIVETEN at checkout to get 10 percent off your total purchase from Advancement Courses.

Last year, we helped 33,901 students and were able to donate $30,028 to fund 361 DonorsChoose.org projects. Thanks to you, we’ll be able to help classrooms and teachers across the country once again. Follow along on our Twitter and Facebook accounts, or sign up for our email list for updates on the projects we fund!

How to Submit Your Project

Are you a public school teacher who is interested in getting your project funded? Submitting is simple. To enter, post on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #EveryClassroomCounts with a link to your project’s DonorsChoose.org URL. You can also use the submission page on our website. Submit your project today!