New Warnock Report Finds Georgia Families Will Pay $130 for Required School Supplies

Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock is unveiling a new report that examines the increased cost of school supplies and how expanding the Child Tax Credit could help Georgia families manage back-to-school costs

Senator Warnock's report reviewed 4^th grade school supply lists from five schools across Georgia, representing urban and rural communities, and found that the cost of required school supplies can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child

Common school supplies like colored pencils and lunch boxes increased in price by 31% and nearly 27% in only one year

Senator Reverend Warnock: "Expanding the Child Tax Credit is not only the right thing to do morally, but the smart thing to do economically. I will keep fighting to get this done"

Above: A year-over-year comparison of the prices of common back to school supplies

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness, is unveiling a new report that found the cost of required school supplies for a 4^th grader can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child. Additionally, the report examines how expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) could help Georgia families manage back-to-school costs and other everyday expenses. As families prepare to send their children back to school, they face rising costs for school supplies thanks to President Trump's reckless tariff policies.

The report reviewed 4^th grade school supply lists from five schools across Georgia representing urban and rural communities. The review found that the cost of required school supplies can cost Georgia families more than $130 per child. Common school supplies like colored pencils and lunch boxes increased in price by 31% and nearly 27% in only one year, respectively.

"Donald Trump's economic policies are making life harder for Georgians who are still feeling the pressure at the gas pump, in the grocery store, and in their household budgets," said Senator Warnock. "Expanding the Child Tax Credit is not only the right thing to do morally, but the smart thing to do economically. I will keep fighting to get this done."

Above: A comparison of the current child tax credit vs the American Family Act

Under current federal tax law, families receive-at most-the equivalent of $183 per month and can only access it when filing their taxes-not during times like back-to-school. Under the American Family Act, legislation to expand the Child Tax Credit, families would receive up to $360 per month for kids under 6 and $300 per month for kids aged 6-17. That is money Georgia families can use to cover essential costs like school supplies, tutoring, or childcare. In 2021, Congress passed legislation temporarily expanding the CTC, which lifted 165,000 Georgia children out of poverty, 2.9 million children across the country, and cut the national child poverty rate in half. Currently, there are more than 11 million children living below the poverty line in the United States.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for educational books and supplies, such as elementary, high school, and college textbooks and reference books, have increased 8.4% since 2024. According to a recent analysis by the Century Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative, prices for school supplies overall are up 7.7% and lunchbox staples are up 10.9%. Price increases for specific types or brands of items can be even higher.

A copy of the report can be found HERE

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