LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As Jefferson County Public Schools families do their back-to-school shopping, items like headphones, plastic baggies and hand sanitizer might be on supply lists. But they shouldn't be.

That's because the district set a specific list for school supplies about 10 years ago in a policy that said parents would only be asked to provide the fundamentals.

But as students get ready to head back to class, WDRB found some schools have forgotten or are ignoring that policy.

Retired teacher and JCPS principal Linda Duncan is the only person still on the Jefferson County Board of Education who was on the board when the policy was put into place.

"We had heard from families and heard complaints because of the costliness of the list," Duncan said. "The lists were getting longer and longer."

In 2014, district leaders set a fundamental school supply list. It was an effort to fix the criticism that the school supply lists had gotten out of control — parents were asked to buy things like copy paper, paper plates, and Kool Aid to send kids back to class.

"Teachers in a lot of our schools were thinking needs, and things they wanted to help enhance their classrooms," said Duncan.

It was expensive, inconsistent, varying from school to school and burdensome, especially for families with multiple kids like Sharita Carter, a mother of eight.

"Even the notebooks, they (are) like $6.99, $5.99, you are trying to get all the children something, things can get really expensive and add up really quick," Carter said Thursday, grateful that only one of her eight remain in school.

The so-called "fundamental" list included basic core items and limited costs. It includes things like paper, pencils, notebooks, just the essentials, while anything else would be on JCPS.

"The district is stepping up, parents spend less money and principals will help teachers acquire additional needed items," former JCPS Superintendent Donna Hargens said in a 2014 interview with WDRB, when the fundamental list went into place. "Principals will order additional classroom supplies based on teacher requests and the district will provide advisement and budgetary support as needed." 

In 2022, the district also launched a program allowing certified teachers to spend $250 for their classrooms and clubs they sponsor through an Amazon Business program launched Friday as a way to mitigate costs for families and teachers who spend from their own pocket on supplies.

WDRB put that fundamental list to the test. When comparing the fundamental list to the supply lists from 10 randomly selected JCPS elementary schools from across the city, four are still asking parents for extras — including Medora, Goldsmith Lane, Bates and Audubon Traditional elementary schools. 

The most common requests include earbuds, Ziploc bags, and dry erase markers. But some schools went further. Audubon Traditional added water colors to some classroom lists, while Medora asked third graders to bring Kleenex and disinfecting wipes.

The rules put in place in 2014 say schools cannot add items to the list. They can subtract or substitute, but nothing new can be added. For example, instead of two boxes of crayons and one glue stick, a school could ask students to bring one box of crayons and two gluesticks instead. But if your supply list has earbuds on it, that's against the rules.

"Apparently we discontinued communicating our expectation," Duncan said.

Why does this all matter? Duncan said the poverty level in JCPS continues to rise. With rising inflation, the National Retail Federation estimates U.S. families will spend close to $40 billion sending their kids back to school this year. From clothes and fees, to supplies, it all adds up. The average cost per family is $875.

"As a single mom, it's (a) challenge, but I always make it work and we figure it out," said parent Tamela Loving.

WDRB took the results of the list comparisons to a JCPS spokesperson and requested to interview Paige Hartstern, an assistant superintendent involved in the creation of the fundamental list. 

The district declined that request and instead sent a statement.

"Some schools have added items to their school supply lists that are not district approved. We have reminded all principals that only items on the Fundamental Supply List, developed 10 years ago, should be included on their school’s list," a JCPS Communication Manager said via email. "Dozens of JCPS schools cover the cost of school supplies for all students. All other schools provide the supplies needed for students to be successful regardless of a family’s ability to pay. "     

Download PDF Louisville 2024 Back to School Events and Supply Drives

"We've just got to do a better job of communicating that to our staff, so they don't put a costly burden on our families," said Duncan.

For families needing assistance, there are more than a dozen back-to-school events scheduled around the city, offering supplies for free thanks to local churches, nonprofits, companies, JCPS and Metro Government. 

For a list of events, click here or on the PDF embedded in this story.

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