BRISTOL, Wis. — Most K-12 schools across Wisconsin are starting the new school year in early September. Some are gearing up for the fall semester earlier than that, with start dates in mid to late August.
Parents are scrambling to purchase the long list of school supplies their children need.
“It’s stressful getting the specific things teachers want and trying to find the best prices and knowing when to go,” said Coleen Graham who is a mother of four. "I’m a bargain shopper.”
Graham’s two sons will attend Kenosha School of Technology Enhanced Curriculum, a charter school within the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD). Graham is also homeschooling one of her daughters this year.
Graham said the school supplies lists seem to be growing.
"I definitely feel like I’m spending more money on it,” she said. "I feel like the supplies themselves don’t usually cost too much, but the amount of supplies seems like a lot.”
A 2023 survey from Deloitte showed school supplies have increased in cost by 23.7% in the last two years. The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicted parents will spend a collective $41.5 billion on school supplies this year, breaking last year’s record.
"When I heard those numbers, it really surprised me and it made me want to put off school shopping even more,” Graham said. "I haven’t really done much this year.”
Graham said she typically starts her back-to-school shopping on Aug. 1 and said she relies on Amazon more and more to find the specific items every parent is likely searching for.
“My first grader needed a red folder and a green folder, a three-pronged pocket folder and I have no idea why and what happens if you don’t bring the right color,” she said. “What are the consequences? Because it can be really stressful finding the exact ones.”
KUSD has its school supplies list posted on its website for early education through middle school. It includes items such as low-odor dry erase markers and two different sizes of post-it notes. It also requires red pens that are not gel or felt.
“I remember wide-ruled versus college-ruled notebooks and one of my boys really struggles with handwriting and needs the wider-ruled, but I don’t know what happens if I buy the stuff he needs and not what’s on the list," Graham said. “I do feel like we have enough options with Amazon, Meijer, Walmart and Target, but it just takes more time to find the things you need if you wait too long.”
The NRF also tracks back-to-college shopping. It predicted that will also break records this year, with people spending $94 billion. That is $20 billion more than last year.