WASHINGTON - A new study from The National Center for Education Statistics found that 94 percent of teachers pay for classroom supplies out of their own pockets, spending an average of $479 a year.
Six percent of teachers spent more than $1,000 on school supplies each year. It can be toughest on new teachers right out of school.
The average new teacher right out of college in Prince George's County makes $47,000. In Fairfax, the salary is $48,000 and in D.C. it's $55,000.
In order to ease the financial burden, many teachers are turning to the internet.
Sites like DonorsChoose.org function like GoFundMe. Teachers ask the public to fund specific projects.
Ms. Jennifer Fitzpatrick works at Amidon Bowen Elementary School, in a low-income area of Southwest D.C. She has raised more than $30,000 for classroom projects and food to feed her students.
"I just want my students to be happy and focus on learning," said Fitzpatrick.
The fight over teachers spending their own money on supplies went all the way to Congress, where 15 years ago, a tax break was passed. Over the years, there has been fighting back and forth about this, but now there is a new proposal being considered that would double the tax break teachers get, making it a $500 deduction.
It is in the reconciliation phase.
To help fund a teacher's project in a local school, visit donorschoose.org.