This back to school season presents a variety of unique challenges. Whether you are preparing to head back to the classroom or for virtual learning at home, teachers play a crucial part in helping families adjust to this new normal wherever their students may be learning. New research from Clorox found that a majority of teachers, especially those who work in underserved schools, are concerned that students may not have the necessary supplies they need to support remote learning.
To determine teachers’ greatest needs, concerns and hopes during this unprecedented back-to-school season, Clorox conducted a nationwide survey among 1,000 U.S. educators.
- 90% of teachers have paid for school supplies out of their own pockets. On average, teachers spend over $400 on school supplies each year, with teachers who report working in underserved schools spending over $500.
- The majority of teachers (88%) worry students won’t have the supplies they need at home to support remote learning during this pandemic. This is an even bigger concern for teachers who report working in underserved schools, with 94% of those teachers stating they feel worried about a lack of supplies at students’ homes.
- Over half (51%) of surveyed teachers report feeling that their students miss out on learning because they lack the proper supplies.
- 71% report they have had to teach students without necessary supplies, and 64% report that they’ve had to modify lesson plans as a result of lack of supplies.
- Four in five teachers (81%) report that they have been bringing lessons on cleanliness and disinfecting into the classroom this school year as a result of COVID-19.
- 90% of teachers are worried about overall classroom hygiene with students returning during the COVID-19 pandemic and 84% are concerned about having thorough procedures in place for cleaning and safety.
To help ease the burden of an unprecedented school year, Clorox is donating $1,000,000 to ClearTheList Foundation to supply the resources teachers need to set their students up for success at home or in the classroom.
“At Clorox, we understand families and schools are facing an impossible task this year with teachers at the center of helping to navigate the multiple challenges surrounding being prepared for both classroom and remote learning,” says Magnus Jonsson, Vice President of Cleaning at The Clorox Company. “Through our donation and partnership with ClearTheList Foundation, we are committed to supporting teachers in their time of distinctive supply needs.”
In 2019, Courtney Jones, teacher and founder of ClearTheList, brought attention to teachers spending hundreds of dollars out of pocket on average for classroom supplies. ClearTheList grew into a national grassroots movement to clear the wish lists of thousands of teachers across America for their school supply needs. This year, teachers who create a wish list can apply for a grant from Clorox through the ClearTheList Foundation for the opportunity to have up to $500 worth of items cleared from their back to school wish list.
“As a teacher, I found meeting the needs of my students often meant providing supplies out of my own pocket,” says Courtney Jones, Clorox partner, teacher, and founder of ClearTheList Foundation. “I’m proud to partner with Clorox to expand upon the ClearTheList movement started in 2019 and ensure teachers around the country have the necessary supplies they need to succeed this school year.”
In addition to the ClearTheList donation, parents have a chance to win $5,000 for their family and $20,000 for their school to prepare for the new school year. Visit Clorox.com/Support-Our-Teachers/ to enter the sweepstakes, learn more about ClearTheList or receive exclusive tips and resources for this back-to-school season. To join the conversation on social media, follow Clorox on Twitter.
For more information on Clorox’s donation or to view/create a list, visit clearthelistfoundation.org.
—Jennifer Swartvagher
Featured photo: Pixabay via Pexels
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