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FYI, Issue #010 -- Back To School Already ? July 24, 2006 |
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SchoolThemes.org
... FYI -
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July 20, 2006
Issue #010
FYI Presenting education discussion items - For Your Information Build School Spirit ! After all... It's all about the kids.... | News | Back To School Already... ? New Tax Breaks May Apply ! Actually many of us are Back To School already... Have you heard about the addition of 4 new states who provide... tax breaks for back to school shoppers ? You may want to let parents, grandparents, PTA's etc... know about this back to school program in your next school newsletter. There are currently only 13 states (see below) who offer tax breaks for back to school shoppers. But many of us have colleagues or family in those states who may benefit from this information... So don't hesitate to pass along FYI. Some of the incentives start as early as this weekend The tax information firm CCH, reports that all 13 states (identified below) and the District of Columbia offer sales-tax waivers on everything from clothing and shoes to school supplies and computers. New York, which launched the first-ever back to school program in 1997 and has since offered a sales tax break on certain items year-round, has turned other states onto the concept. In 2006 four new states were added - Alabama, Maryland, Tennessee and Virginia - and offer their own version of a back to school sales tax holiday. According to a study by the National Retail Federation, back to school spending by American families is expected to reach $17.6 billion in 2006. And that's up over 30 percent from 2005. All buyers should be careful to check to make sure their purchases are covered by the tax holiday provisions in their state. Listed below are the different states offering back to school tax holidays, the dates of the tax break and what items qualify. As of 2006)
Speaking of back to school - Year-round schooling continues to be controversial in almost every school district. Districts from New York to Los Angeles are experimenting with new calendars and hoping to make positive changes to improve student performance. Long term, it's hard to know whether the idea will become more popular or less as parents and administrators try to figure out the best solution. Supporters say year-round systems improve academic performance. They point to Japan, where student scores are higher than those in the U.S. and where students attend classes 220 days a year on average, as opposed to 180 days in America. But there is still plenty of debate. So, if you're already back to school... we continue to suggest school themes are a popular way to unify staff and students... And hopefully your theme team is raring to go... that's a winning combination that will help BOOST your school spirit. Build School Spirit After all... It's all about the kids... |
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