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The price of education goes up with each passing semester. And, as with everything else in our lives, the price of supplies necessary to provide that education goes up as well. Any opportunity teachers, educaters and parents can find to supplement the student's school supplies will always be met with welcome, open arms. Fortunately, there are some interesting options available.

With the wide spread shortages that schools face in classroom supplies due to funding cuts for education, teachers and parents alike are scrambling for options to obtain adequate classroom supplies. Both teachers and parents are maxed out on their ability to provide sufficient funds for school supplies out of their own pockets. At times like these, any avenue for free school supplies is a welcome opportunity.

Many church groups, school PTO groups and individuals participate in the General Mills sponsored program, Box Tops for Education or the Campbell's sponsored program, Labels for Education. Both of these programs operate in a similar manner. Participants save labels, box tops or coupons from the grocery items they would normally purchase anyway. These are amassed and turned in to the sponsoring company to earn computer equipment or other classroom supplies for local schools.

Teachers and school administrators can try soliciting local businesses in an effort to get them to promote their businesses while helping out their neighborhood schools. These companies may be willing to donate bulk supplies of paper, computer ink, pens and pencils, or other essential items in exchange for a blurb in the school newsletter or bulletin board.

The Internet is a treasure trove of possibilities for finding everything imaginable at little or no cost. An excellent source to take a look at is freecycle. People from around the world use this site to post books, computer equipment, CDs, video equipment and just about anything else they have that they are no longer using. The only concern is that the recipient must make arrangement to pick up or have the item shipped.

Oftentimes, in order to receive, you must first ask. Sign up for a Yahoo listserv in your area and post your wish list for needed classroom supplies. A similar site is Adopt-A-Classroom. On this nonprofit site teachers and school administrators can set up an account and encourage financial contributions from their local community. Deposited funds can be used to purchase classroom supplies from suppliers who are associated with the site. Tax deductible receipts are provided.

Many office supply chains offer programs where teachers or school administrators can nominate a fellow teacher for an award of school supplies for their classroom. Generally the applications require a bit of a description about the goals and accomplishments of the nominated teaching professional.

Many communities start out the school year with school-supply drives. The organizers of these drives distribute flyers and send out e-mails to parents, local business owners or groups in the area that may be willing to make donations. These drives often net a bounty of pencils, pens, paper products and oftentimes hats, gloves or backpacks from local businesses.

The days of school supplies being generously and readily available are over. Even in the so-called "free" arena of the public school system, educators need the support of the community to provide a first class educational experience. It is well worth the time and effort to investigate the possibilities.

Learn more about this author, Leann Zotis.
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