Pencils, erasers, pens, notebooks, binders, paper, crayons…. at the end of each summer, parents receive a list of supplies their child “must” bring with them on their first day of class.  However, those utensils can often become expensive, especially making it difficult for those hard-hit by the current economy.

So, what happens if your child can’t afford to bring the scientific calculators, fancy binders, and other pricy supplies?

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy claims one Michigan law requires the school to provide any supplies a child might have.  Their article quotes the Michigan Constitution of 1963, which states, “The legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law.” The Mackinac Center says this article was reviewed in a Supreme Court case in 1970, and a ruling was made that all school supplies should be provided if a child cannot afford their own. 

While this helps hurting families, it could further set-back the already ailing Michigan school budget.

Currently, Governor Rick Snyder has slashed up to $300 per pupil at schools across the state.  Those cuts are being felt by everyone as teachers are laid off, extracurricular activities are cut, and other school programs are dissolved.

As Michigan’s unemployment rate hovers around 10%, many families may not be able to afford the many supplies mandated by schools, thus causing the school to have to fork out extra cash to meet those needs.

So, we want to hear from you. Who should be responsible for ensuring children have the supplies they need: the school or the family? Give us your opinion on this topic below.