These days, instead of just paper and pencils, back-to-school shopping lists run parents through sporting goods seeking tennis balls, the food aisles for bottled water and snacks, even the cleaning aisles for sanitizers and wipes.

It’s a sign of the times: as educating students becomes more complex, so do their needs at school.

In some cases, a student’s socioeconomic background often dictates where teachers find themselves spending money.

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A 1-year-old receives the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at a clinic in Texas. Of the nearly 2,000 U.S. measles cases reported this year, 93% of those who were infected were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)

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Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez