Target Helps Parents Support School Supply Needs

Back-to-school shopping can be financially draining - especially for teachers. According to a recent study by the National School Supply and Equipment Association, teachers spend an average of $589 of their own money each year on school supplies and instructional materials. This school year, teachers can find some relief through the Target Stores Classroom Wish List program.

Through the Classroom Wish List program, teachers are able to create a list of supplies they need to spark learning and fuel imaginations in their classrooms. Parents can prepare their child's classroom by viewing their teachers' Classroom Wish List and purchasing the items specifically requested by the teacher at Target.com/classroomwishlist.

"Target frequently hears from its guests how hard teachers work to stretch every dollar of their limited budgets," said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target Corporation. "Classroom Wish List allows parents to purchase resources for their child's classroom, helping to supplement high-quality learning materials and school supplies, while easing the financial burden educators incur."

Teachers have created Classroom Wish Lists that are tailored to fit the needs of their students and curriculum. Parents can search Target.com for the name of a specific teacher as well as view and purchase items from the teacher's customized list. Target sends all Classroom Wish List items directly to the teacher for whom they were purchased. To celebrate the launch of the Classroom Wish List program, visitors to the Web site can enter to win a $50 Target GiftCard and a $500 school donation. Teachers can continue to register and update their lists at any time by simply logging on to Target.com/classroomwishlist.

Classroom Wish List is part of Target's ongoing support of education. Target education programs include Ready. Sit. Read!, a national reading initiative which encourages a lifelong love of reading; Start Something, a character-building program in partnership with the Tiger Woods Foundation; and Take Charge of Education, a school fundraising program. In addition, Target supports its local communities with education grants and scholarships for high school seniors and college undergraduates.

top