Back-to-School Is Breaking the Bank. Trump's Economy Is Sending Parents the Bill.

NEVADA - As Nevada families prepare for the start of a new school year, they're facing more than first-day jitters—they're facing some of the highest back-to-school costs in recent memory. Under Governor Lombardo’s tenure, Nevada families have seen steep increases in the costs of the supplies they need to help their kids thrive as they head back to school.

A new analysis from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation found the average family will spend nearly $4,000 per child this school year, a 10.7% increase from last year. School supplies alone are up 7.7%, while the cost of packing school lunches has climbed 10.9%. Nearly half of parents say they expect to take on debt just to afford back-to-school shopping.

The rising costs come as families continue to feel the effects of President Donald Trump's economic agenda. Tariffs have raised the price of many school supplies made overseas, while rising fuel prices have increased gas and food prices. In addition, recent federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid are expected to make it harder for many children to qualify for free school meals, adding to the costs borne by families. 

For Nevada parents already struggling with housing costs, child care expenses, and stagnant wages, the start of the school year has become another financial hurdle. Sadly, Nevada Governor Lombardo has done nothing to address the affordability crisis and ease the burden on Nevada families.

Dawn Etcheverry, President of Nevada State Education Association, issued the following statement:

“The first lesson of the school year shouldn't be that learning costs more. For too many families, the school year doesn't begin with the first bell. It begins with the beep of a barcode scanner in the checkout line. Every beep is another reminder that the cost of preparing a child for school keeps climbing. When families can't absorb those costs, educators do. Teachers reach into their own wallets to make sure every student has what they need because they refuse to let a child start the school year without the tools to succeed. They shouldn't have to.”

Amy Parson, Chapter President of the UNR Nevada Faculty Alliance, issued the following statement: 

“Both students and faculty will see increased costs as we head into the fall semester. For faculty, we'll see higher health care costs, with PEBP raising premiums for most plans, as well as increased deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Costs for everything are rising, so we also have increases in on-campus parking and commuting gas, and decreases in our departments' budgets to buy the supplies we need to teach our courses. A year ago, faculty were surveyed about budget priorities, with nearly all respondents noting salaries that don't cover the cost of living. We're likely facing another legislative session in which budgets will be tight, and faculty will once again be without cost-of-living raises. The same survey also found strong support for raising graduate assistant pay, as the minimum stipends haven't been increased since 2023. Some departments have been able to support graduate workers more through federal research grants — but those funding sources have been affected over the last year by federal policy changes. It just means that everyone is working more and paying more, with no pay increases in sight.

Even with increases in student fees to address budget deficits, these increases have not translated into hiring full-time faculty. We're seeing fewer courses offered or pushes to increase class sizes (even for online courses). Faculty are doing what we can to mitigate additional costs to students by finding lower-cost textbooks or open educational resources — but that requires extra time on our part, as many of us are covering extra duties or picking up additional courses when other faculty leave the institution. 

The reliance on on-campus resources such as emergency funds or Pack Provisions (the on-campus food pantry) continues to increase, a trend we are likely to see more of in the coming year. We see it in the classroom, with students deciding whether to buy groceries or a textbook for class, or even scheduling classes to limit the time they might need to be on campus to save on gas and parking. This is a situation that creates stress for all--and one that we'll have to navigate as we head into the classroom in a few weeks.”

Shelbie Swartz, Executive Director with Battle Born Progress, issued the following statement: 

“Last week Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo made it clear to all of us that he is backing billionaires. His choice to prioritize the wealthy over Nevada families speaks to his lack of leadership and his being out of touch with the rest of us. Back-to-school shopping shouldn't require a payment plan. Parents are doing everything they're supposed to do by working hard, raising their kids, and preparing them for success. But they're still falling behind because Washington keeps raising the cost of everyday necessities and Governor Lombardo refuses to act as a barrier against these reckless decisions. Nevada families deserve policies that lower costs, not policies that force parents to choose between buying school supplies and paying the electric bill.”

Haley Nartker, Executive Director of Mother Forward, added:

"Every child deserves to walk into the classroom ready to learn, but far too many parents are wondering how they're going to afford the basics. Families shouldn't have to go into debt to buy notebooks, pack lunches, or keep their children fed during the school day. When the cost of simply sending a child to school keeps climbing, it's working parents who pay the price."

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