CAMERON, Texas — When back-to-school season arrives, parents visit local stores to buy those needed supplies for their kids, but local economist Ray Perryman with the Perryman Group told 6 News prices have increased every year.
"If you just look at the things people have to buy for back to school supplies and clothes, it's up about 4.5% percent," Perryman explained. "So we're seeing people are probably spending on average about 4.5% to 5% more for this year than they were spending this time last year."
Luckily for parents whose kids go to school in Cameron ISD, paying for school supplies will not be as much of a priority.
For the fourth year in a row, Cameron ISD will be providing their students with free school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mistie Dakroub told 6 News that when students arrive to class, all they will have to do on the first day is bring in an open mind ready to learn.
"We started this program during the pandemic and kept it going ever since," Dakroub said. "Not every parent can afford all of those school supplies, and so a lot of the times the teacher was buying some of them because they weren't saying anything to us. So it has actually been really beneficial."
Offering free supplies to students also helps with recruiting more teachers, according to Dakroub.
"I think it is something that sets us apart a little bit from other areas and schools," Dakroub added. "I feel like it makes our community recognize that we want to partner with them and we want to do everything we can to make this a positive and successful experience for all kids."
The provided supplies include pencils, paper, backpacks and more.
Central Texas parent Autumn Ortiz has three kids in Cameron ISD and says the program is a huge help for her when it's time to shop for school.
"My friends in Austin pay over $100 per kid just on supplies," Ortiz shared. "It is such a help what they do."
Tax-free weekend in Texas will begin Friday, Aug. 9 and end at midnight on Sunday, Aug 11.
While inflation can make tax-free weekend seem like it doesn't matter as much anymore, Perryman says it still does.
"The tax rate in most areas is about 8%," Perryman said. "That's pretty substantial savings when it adds up."
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