As the summer days wind down and the beginning of another school year inches closer, many parents have been purchasing and checking off items on the Troup County School System’s school supply list.

According to a study recently released by the National Retail Federation, parents are now spending 42 percent more on their child’s school supplies than they were 10 years ago.

“Our school supply list has been the same for the past five or six years,” said Yolanda Stephen, director of public relations for Troup County School System. “We don’t ask parents to buy anything that we don’t think is absolutely necessary for our students to have.”

TCSS’s school supply list can be found on the school system’s home page at www.troup.org. The lists differ as the items students are required to have differ based on grade level. The study released on the NRF website includes expenses parents will incur from electronics and other items.

“The average family with children in grades K-12 plans to spend $630.36 on electronics, apparel and other school needs,” the study states.

One person who responded to a post on the Daily News’ Facebook page stated she spent $55 on her eighth grader’s school supplies.

For many students in Troup County, there are several different organizations and groups that host special events focused on providing children with back-to-school supplies.

“We are very lucky to have many churches and businesses around this area that hold events in which they collect and distribute school supplies for students whose parents may not be able to purchase their own supplies,” said Stephen. “Many of our parents also purchase extra items to give to other students who do not have everything on their list.”

TCSS distributed lists for school supplies to many local retailers where parents will likely be shopping. Stephen said parents can ask for supply lists at Walmart, Dollar General and Staples retail stores.

School supply lists have grown in recent years after funding for Georgia’s education system has been cut. Some Georgia school systems are asking parents to provide items like paper towels, adhesive bandages – like Band-Aid products, resealable storage bags – like Ziploc products – and hand sanitizer. A few lists also include “party donations.”

“We provide as much as we can, and we never have problems with our students not having the supplies they need thanks to the generosity of other parents and local churches and businesses,” said Stephen.