New state law gives teachers a tax break

SANDUSKY — It's usually the teachers who give out the extra credit. But this time the state stepped up to help teachers' wallets.Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed Senate Bill 26 into law, gifting teachers a state tax break of up to $250 for out-of-pocket costs for school supplies and professional development opportunities. That's on top of a federal tax deduction for up to $250 for qualified teachers. Sen. Stephanie Kunze, R-Hilliard, introduced the bill earlier this year.The Ohio Education Association, the state's largest teachers union with more than 122,000 members, supports the law but wants to see more action."This bill would essentially cover the gap from $251 to $500 for teachers in Ohio," OEA president Scott DiMauro told the Dayton Daily News. "And while we welcome this support for educators, schools need to meet the needs of their students and that still needs to be addressed in the legislature."School supplies sit on tables before being put into backpacks on Monday, July 29, 2019. Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 26 into law, gifting teachers a state tax break up to $250 for out-of-pocket costs for school supplies and professional development opportunities.Funding woesEducators using their own money to stock their classrooms don't just affect those in the buckeye state. A 2018 U.S. Department of Education study found 94 percent of public school teachers across the country pay for their own supplies without reimbursement, the New York Times reported.And according to the Economic Policy Institute, Ohio teachers spend, on average, $444 each school year on classroom supplies like pencils, glue, books and more. That's slightly less than the national average of $459 each school year on supplies.The Economic Policy Institute's data comes from a National Center for Education Statistics survey from the 2011-12 school year that broke down teacher spending by state. The EPI adjusted the survey data, of spending in 2011 dollars, for inflation to represent 2018 spending.This graph shows the average amount of money teachers at public noncharter schools spend on their classrooms each school year. The Economic Policy Institute's data comes from a National Center for Education Statistics survey conducted during the 2011-12 school year that broke down teacher spending by state. The EPI adjusted this data — which showed spending in 2011 dollars — for inflation to represent 2018 spending.When teachers need help funding their classrooms or need specific equipment, many have turned to websites like DonorsChoose.org, a website allowing the public to fund public school teachers' requests for curriculum tools.A recent example: In 2017, Sandusky Schools first grade teacher Holly Blanton requested about $507 in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) items for her classroom via DonorsChoose.org.The supplies ranged from early childhood robot-building kits to hands-on puzzles with the goal of teaching through play and helping students develop critical-thinking skills."My classroom is very diverse and taught through intrinsic as well as extrinsic motivation to support a positive school climate that teaches tolerance through learning and development," Blanton wrote on her DonorsChoose page in February. "They are a great group of children that have the drive and are eager to learn."By late March that year, the project was funded by company Aspect Ventures, which matched the amount."I feel grateful," Blanton told the Register. "The kits help students open their minds and learn in an interactive way. It makes me happy when they're happy."In early November, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 26 into law, gifting teachers a state tax break up to $250 for out-of-pocket costs for school supplies, like glue, and professional development opportunities.Local reactionOn social media, educators and community members had plenty to say about the new law.Here's what some local educators had to say:• McCormick Junior High teacher Leah LaCrosse: It's a great start at acknowledging how teachers fund much of their classroom needs. We want our students to have the best chance to learn, and sometimes that means funding projects ourselves. I'm fortunate to have a husband that understands I love my students, career and work.• Port Clinton teacher Paige Raybuck: Amazing. Teachers spend so much of their own money every single year on stuff for their classrooms. The hardest time is halfway through the year when things have run out, become broken, etc. Teachers usually only get money for supplies at the beginning of the year, so you could imagine the struggle of needing so much more supplies in the middle of the year.• Ontario Elementary teacher Jackie Conrad: Most teachers spend a lot more than $250.• Huron St. Peter teacher Alyssa Puckrin: Obviously, there are many things in education that need to be fixed. But this is a nice surprise. I spend probably upwards of $1,000 or more on my classroom each year.Others online criticized current state laws and school funding.• Dale Didion: Schools should buy. Never the worker should buy material. Teachers have their own bills at home. Ohio lottery was passed to fund the schools and take the burden off the taxpayers.• Kerry Colleen: Keep in mind, this is money out of the teachers' own pocket that he or she is spending on school supplies for his or her students. How about the government spend less on tests and give more to be spent (at the discretion of their teachers) on students?• Veronica Wadsworth: I would prefer that our governor work to fix Ohio's unfair and unconstitutional school funding system. While I appreciate the extra money, it would be best spent assuring that school funding is fair, that teachers are paid what they are worth, and that schools are clean and safe.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodIn early November, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 26 into law, gifting teachers a state tax break up to $250 for out-of-pocket costs for school supplies and professional development opportunities.