Teachers across Mississippi are encountering significant challenges with a new state-mandated process for accessing and purchasing classroom supplies, leading to frustration and concerns about obtaining necessary materials before the school year begins.
The state provides each K-12 public school teacher $748 for classroom supplies through the Education Enhancement Fund (EEF) procurement card program. However, educators report that new requirements, including mandatory training and a shift to a digital wallet platform called ClassWallet, have created a cumbersome system.
Educators must complete training before they can access the funds. Teachers have stated that scheduled online training sessions have been oversubscribed, making it difficult to register and complete the required modules. This delay in training prevents them from activating their accounts.
Furthermore, the process for purchasing supplies, especially from local vendors not integrated into ClassWallet’s marketplace, has become more complicated. Teachers must now often spend their own money upfront and then navigate an arduous reimbursement process. For purchases from local vendors not on the approved list, the state Department of Education must first vet the vendor to ensure they can provide itemized receipts and tax-exempt status. This administrative hurdle has educators concerned about lengthy waits for reimbursement.
State Auditor Shad White's office has publicly stated that the Mississippi Department of Education has "misinformed the public" about the new process and called for immediate rectifications. White noted that teachers are again being forced to spend their own money on essential supplies while navigating bureaucratic obstacles.
While the Mississippi Department of Education stated that districts have been communicated with for months, many teachers feel the changes have been sudden and poorly communicated. Some teachers report that the new system, managed through a one-year, $573,000 contract with ClassWallet, includes a vendor list that features many homeschool-centric businesses, with only a handful of Mississippi-based vendors initially approved.
School administrators aimed to streamline the process by providing districts with access to funds earlier, on July 15, and by moving from physical cards to a digital platform. ClassWallet is used in several states and allows direct purchases from pre-approved online vendors. However, the limited selection of vendors available on the platform and the added layers of administrative approval have become major points of contention.
David Bates, owner of Old School Learning Depot, a Mississippi-approved vendor, estimates the new process could lead to a $60,000 loss in revenue for his business as teachers may avoid spending personal funds on supplies that require reimbursement.
Teachers express concern that these delays and administrative burdens will hinder their ability to prepare their classrooms adequately, potentially impacting student learning. Many, like Marie Lane, a special education teacher, are resorting to using personal funds from other sources to purchase necessary items before students return to school on Aug. 3.