Schoolhouse Supplies 2024-2025 School Year Evaluation and Assessment Report
Methodology
At Schoolhouse Supplies, our work is deeply rooted in community and stakeholder engagement. Working with an external evaluator, we assess the impact of our programs on the needs of historically marginalized students and their teachers every year. Our approach includes several surveys, focus groups, and other direct feedback and insights from teachers, principals and school staff. A brief overview of the 2024-2025 program assessments follows.
Key Statistics
Value of free school supplies distributed: $4.7M
Pencils distributed: 383,721
Teacher shopping trips to the Free Store for Teachers: 3,515
Volunteers: 680
Key Findings from the 2023-2024 School Year
When Teachers have ample supplies, they report:
Reduced levels of stress, for themselves and among their students
A greater capacity to be flexible and creative in what and how they teach
The ability to provide more hands-on and engaging lessons for students
An increased ability to build trusting, supportive relationships with their students
When Students have ample supplies available, they:
Experience fewer distractions and less stress about having the tools they need to learn
Engage with more hands-on materials for subjects like math and science
Are able to better express their creativity with art supplies
Have access to materials that support self-soothing and regulation
Teachers reported that:
Access to Schoolhouse Supplies is very or critically important to their students’:
Class Preparedness (91%)
Class Participation (80%)
Confidence Level (80%)
Interest in Learning (74%)
Self Esteem (71%)
Social Engagement (71%)
Access to Schoolhouse Supplies is very or critically important to teachers’ ability to:
Create a more equitable learning environment for all their students (91%)
Increase the variety and scope of projects offered to students (91%)
Focus on other areas of student need (89%)
Meet students’ educational needs through daily class activities (88%)
Focus on other areas of student need (89%)
100% of teachers spend their own money on supplies that their under-served students would not otherwise have
69% of teachers reported that their students arrive on the first day of school without the requested and necessary supplies.
59% of teachers reported that they have considered leaving the profession of teaching due to feeling under-resourced and under-supported.
51% of teachers reported that their students would not otherwise have the learning tools available at home, which are required to support their learning.
Teacher comments about the impact of Schoolhouse Supplies programs:
“Without the basic supplies that I get at Schoolhouse Supplies, I wouldn’t be able to run my classroom! I rely on them for the basics and love it when there are some special items like rewards and art supplies.”
“Schoolhouse Supplies has helped me in my classroom so much, giving me most of the resources I need to teach and keep my students interested and engaged! I would be lost without them! It has allowed us to make projects we never would have been able to make. It keeps us supplied in decorations to teach the children change of seasons and holidays of different cultures! If it weren’t for the board books I get every month from there, we wouldn’t have any books.”
“Visiting Schoolhouse Supplies has been a massive boost to my school community. This year in particular, my students have loved the books I have brought back to my class. My calming corner has been stocked with positive and uplifting books, crayons, and fidgets… They even had elementary music books this year that allowed me to expand my song collection!”
“Schoolhouse Supplies makes me feel incredibly seen. I don’t know how I would have had anything at all for my students without it… It makes our underpaid (and often under-appreciated) career feel deeply endorsed. Every time I shop, I’m reminded that I’m not alone in this. Thank you.”
