The high cost of back-to-school prep

From backpacks and notebooks to markers and pens, children and parents across New England have begun their back-to-school shopping.

Or have they?

In an effort to save money, many parents are reusing school supplies and stocking up throughout the year. Still, many families have difficulty purchasing vital supplies before the start of school.  With the advance of technology, many school-supply lists now include items such as graphing calculators and flash drives, which can be a financial challenge for some families. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family will spend $630 this year on K-12 school shopping, down 6 percent from a year ago.

Organizations such as the Boston-based nonprofit Cradles to Crayons and the Kids in Need Foundation work to help families in need. This year, Cradles to Crayons expects to distribute more than 70,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, up 18,000 from last year.

Families are not the only ones gearing up for school; teachers also have to prepare their classrooms for the school year. Although the supplies provided to teachers vary from district to district, many students are now expected to assist with classroom supplies. Today’s back-to-school shopping lists are likely to include items such as tissues, hand sanitizers, staplers and resealable bags.

“Every teacher does supply lists differently,” said a Massachusetts high school history teacher who asked not to be identified. “As a high school teacher, what I care about is that students have a system that is organized and works for them.”

According to Forbes, teachers spent an average of $513 of their own money for school supplies in the 2013-2014 school year. According to the high school history teacher, items she typically buys are dry-erase markers, organizational supplies and research books. Some retailers, such as Michael’s, Staples and Apple, offer discounts to teachers.

As summer winds down, virtually every retailer is advertising back-to-school deals, so parents can look forward to both saving money and the new school year.

STEPHANIE ROSS is a freelance writer and marketing coordinator in Boston.