Schoolhouse Supplies 2023-2024 School Year Evaluation and Assessment Report

by Mayra Camacho

Methodology

Schoolhouse Supplies annually assesses the impact of its services on the needs of students and teachers in under-resourced schools and districts. The approach included multiple surveys, focus groups, and other direct feedback and insights from teachers, principals and school staff. A brief overview of the most recent findings is provided below.

Key Statistics

  • Value of free school supplies distributed: $5,209,848

  • Pencils distributed: 319,353

  • Teacher shopping trips to the Free Store for Teachers: 4,043

  • Volunteers: 890

Key Findings from the 2023-2024 School Year

Having ample supplies available in their classrooms helped TEACHERS:

  • Reduce stress

  • Be more flexible and creative in what they taught and how/when they taught a concept

  • Provide more hands-on materials and more engaging lessons for students

  • Reduce conflicts between students and teachers

  • Lower student stress

  • Build trusting, supportive relationships between students and teachers


Having ample supplies available in their classrooms helped STUDENTS:

  • Easily and without stress access the supplies they need to accomplish their work

  • Reduce distractions from missing or broken supplies

  • Engage with more hands-on materials for subjects like math and science

  • Express their creativity with art supplies

  • Have access to materials that help them self-manage and self-soothe

  • Build reliable relationships with a trusted adult


Teachers reported that:

  • The majority of their students:

    • Arrive on the first day of school without all the requested and necessary school supplies

    • Do not have adequate school supplies at home to complete school work

    • Run out of supplies by the start of the second semester and their families are not able to provide replacement supplies

  • Access to Schoolhouse Supplies is very or critically important to students’:

    • Class Preparedness (95%)

    • Class Participation (89%)

    • Interest in Learning (81%)

    • Confidence Level (80%)

    • Self Esteem (79%)

    • Social Engagement (78%)

    • Behavior (67%)

  • Access to Schoolhouse Supplies is very or critically important to teachers’:

    • Ability to create a more equitable learning environment for all their students (96%)

    • Ability to meet students’ educational needs through daily class activities (96%)

    • Ability to focus on other areas of student need (89%)

    • Ability to increase the variety and scope of projects offered to students (86%)



100% of teachers spent their own money on supplies that their under-served students would not otherwise have.

54% of teachers considered leaving teaching as a profession as a result of feeling under-resourced and under-supported.

Teacher comments about the impact of Schoolhouse Supplies programs:

“Honestly, I’m not sure what I would do without Schoolhouse Supplies. I know I would just do without a lot of things, but having support is so crucial in teaching right now. The support is key, and you can feel it in the classroom.”

“None of my students lack for opportunity due to shortage of supplies. They bring challenges enough to focus on, that it is good to know that I do not have to have concern about whether I will run out of classroom supplies before the end of the year.”

“Schoolhouse Supplies has given all students access to materials and tools to be successful. It takes strain off of families to have to take on the financial stress of keeping their students supplied.”

“I work at a school that is over 90% free and reduced lunch. The supplies I get from Schoolhouse supplies have allowed my students to have supplies here at school and supplies to use at home.”