Aug 7, 2008 12:39 PM
As a consequence of a worsening budget situation, virtually all City Council program priorities were cut in the final city budget. Yet the UFT salvaged some 60 percent of Teacher’s Choice funds, which had been threatened with full elimination.
The Teacher’s Choice program, now in its 22nd 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 city funding for the coming school year was reduced from $20 million this school year to $13 million.
The Teacher’s Choice allocations this year are as follows:
You need to save your receipts. If you’ve already begun making purchases, you may use receipts that date back to Aug. 1, 2008. The purchasing period ends on March 15, 2009.
Everyone eligible to participate in the Teacher’s Choice program will receive a separate allocation from the DOE to cover purchases made anywhere — as long as the purchases are for appropriate educational materials for use in a classroom or other professional assignment. That allocation will be issued in December.
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. Also check out DonorsChoose.org, a Web site connecting classrooms in need of materials with individuals who can help.
A detailed Q-and-A on Teacher’s Choice will appear in the Sept. 12 issue.