As Webster students prepare to fill their mind with new knowledge, and their desks with new supplies, three-ring binders and two-pocket folders are becoming hot commodities at retail stores.
Recently released school supply lists have some constants from years past — folders in each color of the rainbow, index cards, crayons and colored pencils, and lots of spiral notebooks. But more technology is making its way into the classrooms, with the latest (and largest) graphing calculators, flash drives and computer-related items popping up on lists.
Students as early as eighth grade are being asked to bring a TI-84 or above graphing calculator to class, an item that could cost parents up to $100.
The graphing calculator is required by New York state for use in upper-level mathematics classes, as well as on state assessments. The state mandates that each student have access to the calculator. Webster schools offer a loan program for the calculators, so that students may borrow them for use throughout the year, said Barbara Goldammer, the distict’s math curriculum adviser.
With supplies, clothes and backpacks combined, an average American family will spend more than $600 to get their student ready for the first day. The National Retail Federation’s 2010 Consumer Intentions and Actions Back to School survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that the average American family will spend $606.40 on supplies, clothes, shoes and electronics, compared to $548.72 last year, and close to the $594.24 in 2008.
This year’s survey found that parents will work on comparison shopping — both online and in store — and will be buying more store-brand and generic products. Many schools are encouraging parents and students to re-use items from the previous year.
According to the federation’s 2010 survey, the combined K-12 and college spending of Americans will reach $55.12 billion, serving as the second biggest consumer spending event for retailers behind the winter holidays.
“We are encouraged by the fact that parents are eager to start their back-to-school shopping this year, but the industry still remains cautiously optimistic about recovery,” said federation President and CEO Matt Shay.
When it comes to how much say children have in parents’ buying decisions, six in 10 adults, or 61.1 percent, say their children influence 50 percent or more of their back-to-school purchases.
“(We’re looking for) one hard-cover or laminated plastic pocket folder,” Jane Beamish said as she shopped with daughters Allie and Hannah at the Target store in Irondequoit recently.
“The girls love school (they go to DeWitt in Webster), so they’re very excited about getting their stuff and getting ready to go back to school,” Beamish said.
— Additional reporting by Jessica Spies and Linda Quinlan
