This story has been updated.
With a return to school in Bexar County looming — Edgewood Independent School District starts on Aug. 7 and most others begin in mid-August — aisles in stores are filling with supplies for students.
But parents with elementary students at two San Antonio districts can put their wallets away, and others have the chance to get free supplies at district events.
Free school supplies
The Judson Independent School District is leveraging federal funding to provide supplies for all elementary school students.
The school supplies will be delivered directly to campuses and provided to students by their teachers on the first day of school.
Judson ISD will not be providing backpacks to carry materials.
Southwest Independent School District’s students in grades pre-K through 8 will have their school supplies covered, as well. The district approved $300,000 from its fund balance to provide free supplies and the nonprofit TexasYes project is also providing free supply kits for all elementary students.
Other districts, including the Alamo Heights Independent School District and Northside Independent School District, will have supplies available through counselors at each campus for students in need, according to district officials.
Back-to-school events
Back-to-school events by districts and community organizations will provide parents with free information, supplies, and required immunizations and checkups.
- San Antonio Independent School District parents can get supplies at a variety of kindergarten signing events and block-walking initiatives.
- The Act of Hope Center will be providing free supplies including backpacks and school supplies for children that register for an event on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 12 p.m. Supplies are limited.
- R&J Music Pavilion in San Antonio will be providing free school supplies along with activities and entertainment on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m. The location is 18086 Pleasanton Road.
- Fiesta Youth has partnered with the YMCA of Greater San Antonio for an annual Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. that includes a DJ, activities, games, animal encounters, a resource fair from area nonprofits, free school supplies while they last and a raffle for gift cards and a personal laptop computer. There will also be free backpacks for students present while supplies last. The event will be at the Harvey E. Najim Family YMCA, 3122 Roosevelt Ave.
- Brooks Gives Back is partnering with City Council District 2 and the South Texas Business Partnership to host a ‘Blastin’ back to school’ event on Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Greenline SA, 2532 Sidney Brooks, where they will give away free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last and haircuts.
Parents spending less
As parents across the country get ready to get back to school, they will be spending 10% less than last year, according to an annual survey by Deloitte released last week.
The drop in spending comes amid a 23.7% increase in the cost of school supplies in the past two years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index.
Three in 10 surveyed parents say their households are in a worse financial situation than last year, and half expect the economy to weaken in the next six months.
