WASHINGTON D.C. —  With kids heading back to school, teachers across the country have been busy preparing their classrooms for another successful school year. In an effort to help teachers provide the best possible education, Congressman Sam Graves (R – MO-06) and Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D – MO-01) recently introduced the Teacher Tax Deduction Enhancement Act of 2019 (H.R. 4180).

The bill increases the income tax deduction for full-time teachers from $250 to $500 a year (indexed for inflation) and makes available, for the first time, a $250 deduction to part-time teachers. It will also allow preschool teachers in state-recognized schools to take the deduction.

“Our teachers work incredibly hard to provide the best possible education for our students,” said Graves. “They often spend their own money to provide much-needed supplies and materials for their classrooms. Enhancing the teacher tax deduction will help our teachers with these costs as they strive to make sure that kids receive the best learning experience possible.”

“Teachers are on the front lines of shaping the next generation of America’s future.  It’s wrong to ask them to foot the bill for extra classroom supplies without helping them pay for it,” said Clay. “Our bill doubles the tax deduction from $250 to $500 for out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies to lessen the burden that America’s educators shoulder on behalf of our kids.”

A copy of the bill is available here.

What They Are Saying

 “The National Education Association applauds Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and William Lacy Clay (D-MO) for the introduction of the Teacher Tax Deduction Enhancement Act.  According to data from the National Center for Education Studies, 94% of public school teachers bought supplies with their own money – to the tune of $479 or more per year.  For too long educators have had to reach into their own pockets to purchase supplies for their students and classroom.  Increasing and expanding the teacher tax deduction would be a real win for our members and the students that they educate.” – Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations, National Education Association