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Teacher’s Choice is back!
Aug 4, 2009 12:39 PM
Start saving your receipts for educational supplies
As you pack up the educational supplies you purchase and bring to your classroom, don’t forget to save your receipts so you can be reimbursed through Teacher’s Choice.
Despite the grave economic crisis, the UFT was able to win funding at the same level as last year for Teacher’s Choice, which had been threatened with elimination.
The Teacher’s Choice program, now in its 23rd year, helps offset teachers’ out-of-pocket purchase of supplemental classroom supplies. It is built on the premise that educators are in the best position to decide what supplies they need for their classrooms and assignments.
The Teacher’s Choice allocations this year are as follows:
- $150 for all teachers;
- $100 for social workers, school psychologists and guidance counselors;
- $50 for school secretaries; and
- $75 for lab specialists.
The purchasing period runs from Aug. 1, 2009 through March 15, 2010. You must save your receipts.
Everyone eligible to participate in the Teacher’s Choice program will receive a separate allocation from the DOE in December to cover purchases made anywhere — as long as the purchases are for appropriate educational materials for use in a classroom or other professional assignment.
Teacher’s Choice remains an important supplement to meeting instructional supply needs. The DOE is responsible for providing basic supplies. Under Article 11C of the UFT contract, “schools should provide appropriate and sufficient basic instructional supplies and books to deliver an effective educational program.”
Remember that unreimbursed spending on school supplies is also tax-deductible.
