UFT endorses bill to give teachers tax credits
A typical teacher spends nearly $1,000 of his or her own money each year on basic classroom supplies to help students whose families can’t afford to purchase notebooks, pens, and other necessities, according to the National School Supply and Equipment Association.
Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), said teachers dig into their own pockets “because they care and they want to make a difference in children’s lives.”
There might be help on the way for teachers whose dedication to their profession leaves them with fewer bucks in their wallets.
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-C-Bay Ridge-Staten Island) is urging the assembly to pass legislation she has co-sponsored that would provide a tax break of up to $500 a year for teachers who use personal funds to purchase supplies for their students and classrooms.