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Samantha Hayes ReportingReading, writing, and arithmetic don't require just study time from students, getting ready for the school year is becoming a larger out of pocket expense for parents. You are probably prepared to buy the three ring binders, pencils, and paper; as students get older, the price tag increases.
James Byrd has found himself doing a different kind of math problem every fall, an estimation of how much he expects to spend to prepare both his first and third grader for the classroom.
James Byrd, Parent: "At least five to six hundred dollars with clothes and everything, all the school supplies. It's expensive."
He's right on the money. A recent survey for the National Retail Federation shows the average family will spend $527.08. Up from $443.77 last year, 83 dollars more.
James Byrd: "There are certain things you know you need to get - binders, backpacks, pencils, papers."
Elementary school teacher Sharon Gallagher says in the Salt Lake City school district, parents do not have to buy those basic supplies.
Sharon Gallagher, Elementary school teacher: "If you are requesting anything, it is strictly on a voluntary basis, at least in the elementary school level. So they are under no obligation to purchase anything."
The survey found, as children get older, the supplies for school get more expensive. Where a slide rule used to suffice, high school students need graphing calculators for math class, which run $120 now.
Total spending on electronics for school is estimated to increase by more than $1.5 billion this year. It's not just pens and paper parents consider when getting kids ready for school. clothes are a bigger expense every year.
James Byrd: "They want to dress like other kids, fit in. All kids want to be in style."
And getting an "A" in fashion will cost parents an average of $228.14 this year, up from $205.31 in 2005.
Back to school is big business, $17.6 billion is expected to be spent this fall.
