Kansas families who qualify will get $500 to help cover costs of the upcoming school year. An estimated 11,000 families who are already receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) through the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services have been notified by mail that the benefits have been uploaded to their Vision card.
The money has been made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and eligibility is determined by household size, income and resources. The TANF program, available for no more than 60 months, also includes employment preparation such as work experience and job training programs, assistance in gaining a GED and help with job interview skills and in some cases, help in locating or looking for a job, according to Steve Mock, director of communications for SRS.
The beginning of the new school year is costly, and becoming more so, as budget-strapped school districts pass on more of the expense to families. The Board of Education for Skyline Schools approved a 9.5 percent fee increase for the 2010-11 school year, and Pratt USD 382 has levied a $30 per family charge for transportation of children who live less than 2.5 miles from their school building.
Textbook rental and other fees, depending upon the school of attendance and grade level, can vary from $10 to more than $100 per child. Lunches add another $25 or so each month. A quick check in the school supply aisles of a local store tallied $25 or more for basic supplies.
The National Retail Federation estimates the average American family will spend $606.40 per child for clothes, shoes, supplies and electronics, up from $548.72 last year.
Families with incomes above the poverty level may struggle with back-to-school expenses that rival financial demands during the holiday season. Both Pratt and Skyline school districts offer an installment plan so families can spread costs throughout the year. There is no additional fee for the service, which both Carol McKenna at the USD 382 district office and Michelle Domsch at USD 438 said is well-utilized.
Skyline polled its parents about paying fees with a credit card, Domsch said, but there was not much interest. The district would have had to assess a fee for the service and interest to the card-issuer on an unpaid balance were negative factors in its use.
