Staff Reporter
Back-to-school season in New York is turning into a financial challenge for thousands of parents as the cost of school supplies soars higher than ever before. From backpacks to notebooks, the essentials every child needs are eating deeper into family budgets, forcing parents and educators to make difficult choices.
Experts say these higher prices are tied to the 30% tariffs on Chinese imports imposed by President Donald Trump earlier this year. Everything from pencils to lunchboxes is affected, leaving many New York families scrambling for alternatives.
Brett House, an economics professor at Columbia Business School, explained that these tariffs hit where it hurts most: everyday items parents need for their children’s education.
“Nearly everything children need for school is impacted by these tariffs,” House said.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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New York school supplies cost has hit record highs in 2025
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Tariffs on Chinese imports driving price surge
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Low-income families face double strain as federal support shrinks
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Nonprofits like New York Cares cutting back on donations
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Teachers dipping into their own pockets to help students
The rise in New York school supplies cost is not happening in isolation. It comes at a time when federal cuts to food and housing assistance programs have left vulnerable families with fewer resources to manage other expenses. For many households, this means making heartbreaking decisions between buying groceries and buying basic educational tools.
Nonprofit organizations, which have traditionally stepped in to help, are also feeling the pinch. Sapreet Saluja, Executive Director of New York Cares, shared that her team is struggling to maintain its annual Stand With Students campaign, which typically donates about 20,000 backpacks filled with supplies to students by September.
“The increase in costs is forcing us to rethink our strategy,” Saluja said.
“This year, we’ve had to make some tough calls. For example, we’re giving kids looseleaf paper instead of including pencil sharpeners and scissors. We’re also cutting down on the number of pens and pencils in each backpack.”
For parents, the situation is personal and urgent. Karen Lawson, a Southeast Queens mother of 4-year-old twins starting pre-K, admitted that the financial stress is already weighing heavily on her.
“The supplies they need now are minimal compared to what’s coming,” Lawson said.
“When they reach elementary school, junior high, high school, and even college, the expenses will only grow. I just hope I can afford that when the time comes.”
Lawson is no stranger to community support. She organizes back-to-school fundraising drives in her neighborhood while also benefiting from them herself. Still, she knows the social cost for children who don’t have proper supplies.
“Kids get teased when they show up without supplies or with old and worn-out items,” she said.
“I’m on lines to get resources too, because the prices are getting so high.”
Other parents are finding creative ways to cope. In Flatbush, Julianna Sanchez, mother of a 14-year-old high school freshman, is making her son reuse last year’s notebooks.
“Because of how expensive everything is, I’m making him reuse some of the notebooks that still have pages left,” Sanchez said.
If those run out, she already has a backup plan:
“I’ll just take printer paper, and he’ll have to use that.”
The impact doesn’t stop at home. Teachers are also feeling the strain. Sarah Yunus, a fifth-grade teacher in the East Village, explained that while she receives just over $200 from the City Council to stock her classroom, it’s never enough to cover the entire year.
“By spring, I’m dipping into my own pocket to buy supplies for students,” Yunus said.
Waiting for the school system to approve additional resources isn’t a quick solution.
“When you need something urgently, you can’t wait months for it,” Yunus said.
To fill the gap, Yunus has reached out to parents who can help and even created an Amazon wish list to share with friends.
As prices continue to climb, New York school supplies cost is becoming a major financial burden for families, educators, and nonprofits alike. The coming school year is shaping up to be a test of creativity, resourcefulness, and community support as everyone works to ensure students don’t fall behind because of something as basic as a notebook or a pencil.
The rising New York school supplies cost is more than just a seasonal inconvenience — it’s a growing financial challenge that affects parents, teachers, and community organizations alike. With tariffs pushing prices higher and federal aid cuts reducing support, families are left juggling priorities between essential needs and education. Nonprofits are scaling back, teachers are dipping into their own pockets, and parents are stretching every dollar to make sure their children don’t fall behind. As the new school year begins, the situation underscores a deeper question: how long can families continue to bear the cost of learning in an economy where even the basics are becoming unaffordable?
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