COLUMBUS, Ohio, and
ARLINGTON, Va., July 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The 13th
annual Huntington (Nasdaq: HBAN; www.huntington.com) Backpack
Index, a barometer for household spending on school supplies and
related fees, reports a significant increase in costs for American
families with children attending elementary, middle and high
school. Developed in collaboration with Communities In Schools, a
national nonprofit supporting at-risk students in K-12 public
schools, the 2019 Huntington Backpack Index features an updated
methodology reflecting the increased reliance on connected devices
for completing school work.
According to a survey of Communities In Schools affiliates
across 26 states and the District of
Columbia, 62% of respondents reported that elementary school
students are at least sometimes asked to submit assignments from
home via connected devices. The same figure jumped to 88% for
middle school students and 94% for students attending high
schools.
Since 2007, the Huntington Backpack Index has tracked classroom
supply and school fee costs to highlight the burden of school
expenses beyond assessed taxes. Addressing the need for access to
connected devices at home, the 2019 index added the cost of a basic
laptop and home internet to the usual collection of classroom
supplies and extracurricular fees. For the upcoming year, according
to the Huntington Backpack Index, parents can expect to pay per
child:
- $1,017 for elementary school
supplies, extracurricular fees and technology
- $1,277 for middle school
supplies, extracurricular fees and technology
- $1,668 for high school supplies,
extracurricular fees and technology
"For 13 years, the Huntington Backpack Index has provided a
benchmark for American families to prepare for the real financial
impact of sending their children to school," said Andy Harmening, Huntington senior executive vice
president and head of consumer and business banking. "With changing
demands on students to complete daily assignments on connected
devices, we not only felt it important to revisit our methodology,
but also to do our part in setting up our communities' students for
success in the classroom."
Huntington Bank regularly donates refurbished electronics
to organizations in need. This year, the Columbus-based bank will donate 1,000
refurbished devices, including tablets, desktops, laptops, routers,
servers and wireless access points, to Communities In Schools
affiliates located within Huntington's Midwest footprint.
"All students, regardless of their family's income, should have
the tools required to do their best work inside the classroom and
at home," said Communities In Schools Chief Program and Innovation
Officer, Heather Clawson, Ph.D.
"With resources stretched inside schools, teachers need nonprofits,
members of the community and corporate partners to help bridge the
school supply and technology gap."
Huntington Backpack Index Methodology
Huntington collaborated with Communities In Schools to survey
affiliates across 26 states plus the District of Columbia. Affiliates were asked to
identify items typically on supply lists for elementary, middle and
high school students. Classroom supplies receiving at least 30% of
the votes were included in the 2019 Huntington Backpack Index.
Affiliates were also asked to estimate extracurricular fees and the
use of technology to complete classroom assignments. Costs of
supplies and technology equipment are determined by selecting
moderately priced items at national online retailers.
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a regional bank holding
company headquartered in Columbus,
Ohio, with $108 billion of
assets and a network of 898 full-service branches, including 12
Private Client Group offices, and 1,727 ATMs across eight
Midwestern states. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank
and its affiliates provide consumer, small business, commercial,
treasury management, wealth management, brokerage, trust, and
insurance services. Huntington also provides vehicle finance,
equipment finance, national settlement, and capital market services
that extend beyond its core states. Visit huntington.com for more
information.
About Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools (CIS) is the nation's largest
organization dedicated to empowering at-risk students to stay in
school and on a path to a brighter future. Working directly inside
more than 2,300 schools across the country, we connect kids to
caring adults and community resources designed to help them
succeed. We do whatever it takes to ensure that all kids
- regardless of the challenges they may face - have what
they need to realize their potential. Join our community
at www.CommunitiesInSchools.org.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huntingtons-13th-annual-backpack-index-spotlights-the-role-of-technology-in-rising-back-to-school-costs-300887082.html
SOURCE Huntington