Just another reason why schools/teachers need more money, IMHO ... Excerpts from Poynter.org:

The National School Supply & Equipment Association says teachers spent $1.33 billion dollars out of their own pockets in the 2009-2010 school year to equip their classrooms with everything from craft supplies to software and games.

The Journal, a magazine that covers campus technology, reports:

"The report, 'The 2010 NSSEA Retail Market Awareness Study,' was based on a survey of 308 K-12 teachers in May 2010 conducted by Perry Research Professionals.

It revealed that teachers spent on average $356 of their own money on supplies and resources, including an average of $170 on supplies and $186 on instructional materials. (Instructional materials were defined as software and games, as well as paper-based teaching aids and other non-equipment teaching materials; supplies were defined as printer paper, arts and crafts supplies, pencils, glue, and other similar supplies.)

"Despite the total $1.33 billion out of pocket price tag for classroom materials, average individual teacher expenditures were actually down this year compared with previous studies: $395 in a 2007-2008 NSSEA study and $552 in a 2005-2006 NSSEA study."