2024 Teacher Back-to-School Freebies and Discounts: A Guide to Classroom Resources and Retail Offers

The start of the 2024 school year brings a variety of free resources and discount programs designed to support educators and reduce out-of-pocket classroom expenses. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for school supplies increased by 18.1% between August 2020 and August 2023, with teachers spending an average of $500 to $750 annually on supplies. To help mitigate these costs, numerous organizations, brands, and retailers have established freebie programs and exclusive discounts for verified educators.

These offerings range from instructional materials and classroom kits to significant savings on clothing, electronics, and home goods. While some programs are available nationally, others are restricted to specific geographic areas or require proof of educator status. This guide outlines the verified freebies and discounts available to U.S. teachers for the 2024 back-to-school season.

Free Classroom Resources and Instructional Kits

Several organizations provide direct donations of educational materials to qualifying classrooms. These programs focus on reducing the financial burden of sourcing instructional tools and basic supplies.

Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures

Colgate offers a classroom kit program specifically for kindergarten and first-grade teachers. The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program donates classroom kits intended to help educators teach good oral care. These kits typically include educational materials and sample products to facilitate lessons on dental hygiene.

School House Supplies (Portland Area)

For teachers in the Portland, Oregon area, School House Supplies operates a Free Store for Teachers. Eligibility is restricted to educators in specific school districts, including: - Centennial School District - David Douglas School District - Parkrose School District - Portland Public Schools - Gresham-Barlow School District - Reynolds School District

To participate, the school must have 50% or more of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Teachers can shop at the free store for supplies to bring back to their classrooms. Schools interested in the 2023–2024 Schoolhouse Supplies Online program are directed to contact the organization directly.

Half Price Books Donations

Half Price Books accepts donation requests from educators and nonprofits that focus on literacy, the environment, or education. Once an application is approved, the organization sends an email to the provided address, allowing the recipient to pick up books or other media at the nearest Half Price Books location. It is noted that a 60-day advance notice is required for donation requests.

Amazon Kindle Textbooks

Amazon offers several free eTextbooks for classrooms or students with access to a Kindle device. This resource allows educators to utilize digital textbooks without incurring additional costs.

Retailer Discounts for Educators

Major retailers offer seasonal and year-round discounts to verified educators. These discounts typically require proof of teacher status, such as a school ID or online verification through a rewards program.

Target

Target offers an annual Teacher Prep Event. For 2024, the event ran from July 14 to August 24. During this period, teachers were eligible to receive a one-time coupon for 20% off their entire purchase. Instructions on how to verify teacher status and obtain the coupon were available on the Target website.

Dollar General

Dollar General provides a 30% discount coupon to teachers for in-store purchases. For the 2024 season, this offer was valid through September 6. To access the discount, teachers must create an account on the Dollar General website and register their teacher status.

Michaels

Michaels offers a teacher rewards program that allows educators to save 15% on both in-store and online purchases year-round. To receive this discount, teachers must verify their educator ID online through the Michaels Rewards program.

JOANN

JOANN provides a 15% discount for teachers every day. This offer is available to educators who present valid identification or register for the JOANN Teacher Rewards program.

Old Navy

Old Navy offers a 10% discount on in-store purchases to teachers through September 2, 2024. To receive the discount, a valid teacher ID must be shown at checkout.

Anthropologie

Anthropologie extends a 20% discount on full-price purchases to teachers through September 2, 2024. For in-store purchases, a teacher ID is required at checkout. For online purchases, teacher status must be verified by following the instructions provided on the Anthropologie website.

Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club offers year-round teacher discounts. Specific details regarding the discount percentage or eligible items were not fully detailed in the source data, but the program is listed as an ongoing benefit for educators.

Half Price Books Educator Discount Card

In addition to donation requests, Half Price Books offers an Educator Discount Card that provides 10% off purchases year-round.

Food and Beverage Freebies

During Teacher Appreciation Week in May 2024, several food and beverage chains offered free items to educators. While this specific week has passed, these offers highlight recurring seasonal trends for teacher benefits.

Whataburger

During Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6–10, 2024), Whataburger offered free breakfast items to teachers who presented their school ID between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Eligible items included a taquito, Breakfast on a Bun, or honey butter chicken biscuit, along with a Whatateacher table tent while supplies lasted.

Chick-fil-A

Participating Chick-fil-A locations offered a free chicken biscuit or chicken sandwich on Teacher Appreciation Day, May 7, 2024.

McAlister’s Deli

McAlister’s Deli provided a free tea to teachers from May 6–12, 2024, at participating locations. No purchase was necessary to redeem this offer.

Sonic

Sonic offers a "Teachers Circle" program. Educators can sign up for Teachers Circle in the Sonic app to receive rewards year-round.

Apparel and Lifestyle Discounts

Several clothing and lifestyle brands offer exclusive discounts to help teachers refresh their wardrobes and prepare for the school year.

Dockers

Dockers offers a 25% discount on Dockers apparel to eligible educators.

Legoland Discovery Center Westchester

Through the end of August 2024, Legoland Discovery Center Westchester offered teachers free entry. Additionally, teachers could purchase tickets for up to four guests at a 50% discount.

Additional Retailer Programs

Other retailers offering teacher discounts include: - Sephora: Offers a 10% discount for teachers and medical professionals during specific "Community Days." - Barnes & Noble: Offers a 20% discount on books and media during Educator Appreciation Days. - Apple: Provides education pricing on devices and accessories for teachers and school staff.

Digital and Printable Classroom Materials

For teachers seeking digital resources to print and use in the classroom, several online platforms offer free materials.

The Rigorous Owl

The Rigorous Owl provides a "Back to School Freebies" collection. One featured resource is a 40-page "All About the Teacher Scavenger Hunt." This activity is designed to help students get to know their teacher and the classroom environment simultaneously. It can be used during the first day of school, back-to-school night, or the day before school starts.

Traveling Teacher Girl

Traveling Teacher Girl offers a variety of back-to-school freebies, including: - Classroom Numbers: A resource for labeling "all the things," such as pencil boxes, book bins, desks, and books, to help with organization. - Birthday Bulletin Board Display and Free Birthday Gift Idea: A resource to help teachers recognize student birthdays without purchasing individual gifts. This includes a bulletin board display and a strategy for acknowledging students on their special days.

Conclusion

The landscape of teacher freebies and discounts in 2024 is diverse, encompassing direct donations of classroom supplies, digital teaching materials, and significant retail savings. While many offers are available nationally, some are geographically restricted or tied to specific verification programs. Educators are encouraged to verify their status with retailers like Target, Dollar General, and Michaels to access year-round savings. Additionally, organizations like Colgate and School House Supplies provide targeted resources for specific grade levels and regions. As the school year progresses, educators should monitor brand websites and educational blogs for seasonal updates on new offers and discounts.