The school supplies on the rising sixth graders\u2019 shopping lists were typical. Notebooks for Naylee Flores. Pencils for Sebastian Rubio.<\/p>\n
The students\u2019 mothers expressed concern about costs, and they are not alone.<\/p>\n
A NerdWallet survey<\/a> showed that 56% of K-12 and post-secondary parents find back-to-school shopping financially stressful. Credit Karma found<\/a> that 39% of K-12 parents say they cannot afford the supplies.<\/p>\n Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that producers\u2019 prices \u2014 a common indicator of inflation \u2014 for pencils and art supplies are up from 2024.<\/p>\n !function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();<\/p>\n Mothers Gaby Flores and Anna Rubio accompanied their children in aisles lined with colorful backpacks, folders and crayons at Renaissance Square\u2019s Walmart Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Flores also has a rising fourth grader and a toddler. She compares brands to save money.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more expensive now than in other years,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Rubio, who has a rising fourth grader and prekindergartener in addition to her sixth grader, said she will buy items elsewhere if she can find them for a lower price.<\/p>\n Still, school supplies are an essential buy for families.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year was a little crazy, but it had to be done,\u201d Rubio said. \u201cIf they need it, we got to do what we can to provide it for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Where families in need can find free school supplies<\/strong><\/p>\n Back to School Party for youth in foster care<\/a> \u2014 Children in foster care can receive free supplies at this Aug. 1 event hosted by CASA of Tarrant County, Our Community Our Kids and the Gladney Center for Adoption. Preregistration is required.<\/p>\n Fort Worth ISD Community Resource Fair<\/a> \u2014 At this Aug. 2 event by United Way of Tarrant County, students can receive free school supplies, books and backpacks.<\/p>\n Arlington ISD Back to School Kickoff<\/a> \u2014 Students can receive a free backpack and school supplies at this Aug. 2 event at AT&T Stadium. They must be registered at an Arlington ISD school and can sign up for the event here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Back to School Roundup<\/a> \u2014 Eligible families can receive free supplies and other services at this event Aug. 8 at Tarrant County College South Campus.<\/p>\n Eastside YMCA Back to School Bash<\/a> \u2014 This Aug. 9 event will include a backpack and school supply giveaway courtesy of the Why Not You Foundation and the 7-Eleven Network of Black Professionals.<\/p>\n Consumer Reports recommends<\/a> shoppers looking to save money start early, compare prices, shop sales and take advantage of student discounts.<\/p>\n Families can shop for clothing, school supplies and backpacks tax-free Aug. 8-10 as part of the state\u2019s annual sales tax holiday<\/a>. Items must be priced below $100 to qualify.<\/p>\n Rubio usually waits until the last minute to shop for school supplies. This year, however, she started early to avoid stores running out of items her children need.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not ready for it. I\u2019m never ready for it,\u201d she said, with a laugh.<\/p>\n McKinnon Rice is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.\u00a0<\/p>\n