Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) and the Education Foundation of Harris County (EFHC) are partnering for the fourth annual Tools for Teachers program, designed to support Harris County independent school district teachers with classroom supplies for the start of the school year.

The program aims to mitigate the personal costs teachers incur as they purchase materials necessary to set up their classrooms for the first weeks of school. EFHC has provided a total of $200,000 for this initiative, which the HCDE Board of Education allocated from its annual budget.

Up to 3,000 Harris County public school teachers can register for a $100 credit from EFHC to purchase classroom supplies through a local online vendor. The credit will be offered to the first 2,000 eligible registered teachers on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024 on www.hcde-texas.org/toolsforteachers. Qualifying applicants can shop from Sept. 11-15, 2024.  

To qualify, educators must register with a valid work email from a Harris County school district. Teachers from charter schools, private schools, or schools outside of Harris County are not eligible for the credit. Educators will receive an email with a coupon code and instructions for buying the supplies online. The credit may not be used towards furniture, electronics, or clothing.

Purchases over the $100 credit will be the individual teacher’s responsibility. All supplies will be shipped directly to the teacher’s school free of charge. Items shipped to a residential address will be charged a $12 fee.

For more information, visit www.hcde-texas.org/ToolsForTeachers.