FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2023
Contact: Christina Mazzanti
703-717-5333
christina@aaeteachers.org

Association of American Educators Calls
for Realistic Educator Expense Deduction

Mission Viejo, CA – The Association of American Educators (AAE), a national nonunion, professional association serving educators in all fifty states, on record since October 2020 in calling for increasing the existing Educator Expense Deduction to $1,000, is urging Congress to bring the deduction in line with the realities of educators’ out-of-pocket expenses and the skyrocketing cost of living.

“The current $300 expense deduction cap is woefully short of what professional educators spend annually to purchase many of their classroom’s basic needs, in addition to the cost of reliable home internet access which is a vital tool for educators in every school setting and grade level, as well as for professional development and training,” said AAE Executive Director Colin Sharkey. Educators continue to share their stories of unreimbursed expenses.

“I have spent approximately $1,200 of my personal money to create a welcoming atmosphere in my classroom.” Idaho high school educator

“As a Spanish teacher it requires a lot of crafts to teach culture. Because I don’t have enough of a budget to teach culture I end up spending a lot of money out of pocket.” Alabama high school educator

“I not only buy art and music tools for students but also PE equipment like jump ropes, balls, cones, and more.” Georgia elementary school educator

The IRS increased the deduction cap from $250 to $300 in 2022, due to inflation. If the Educator Expense Deduction had kept up with the consumer price index, the original $250 limit would be around $422 today. Added Sharkey, “An increase from $300 to $1,000 that includes up to $400 of home internet expense as a qualifying expense is urgently needed if educators are to continue to meet their students’ educational needs, deliver the best education possible, and do so without further unfair and unsustainable personal financial burden.”

The Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest national, nonunion, professional educator organization, advancing the profession by offering a modern approach to educator empowerment and advocacy—promoting professionalism, collaboration, and excellence without a partisan agenda. AAE is committed to a teaching profession that is student oriented, well respected, and personally fulfilling. AAE serves members in all fifty states and welcomes professionals from all education entities. Membership includes $2 million professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional resources, and many other benefits. Classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, student teachers, university professors, and supporters can learn more at joinaae.org.

AAE’s Thousand Dollar Deduction proposal complements AAE’s Three Percent for Public Schools proposal, which calls on states to enact legislation requiring public school districts offering payroll deduction services to any professional association to extend that service to all qualifying associations and to charge a standard fee of three percent for those transactions. A three percent standard fee for payroll deduction services currently conducted by our public districts would provide up to $50,000,000 for our classrooms every year.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest national, nonunion, professional educator organization, advancing the profession by offering a modern approach to educator empowerment and advocacy—promoting professionalism, collaboration, and excellence without a partisan agenda. AAE is committed to a teaching profession that is student oriented, well respected, and personally fulfilling. AAE serves members in all fifty states and welcomes professionals from all education entities. Membership includes $2 million professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional resources, and many other benefits. Classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, student teachers, university professors, and supporters can learn more at joinaae.org.

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