Here are two true things about teachers:
- You probably had at least one who made a major impact on your life.
- They’re underpaid.
In 28 states, teachers are paid less than 80 cents on the dollar earned by similar college-educated workers in those states. This is especially frustrating because as families and as a society, we really need our teachers to want the job:
“Compared to any other aspect of schooling, teachers have the greatest impact on student achievement,” reports Edutopia. “A well-trained teacher is likely to send more students to college, and can boost a class’s lifetime income by $250,000.”
Can we just say: 😳 🙌
On average, elementary teachers get about $11 per student from their schools’ budgets, and have to spend an additional $33 out of pocket on each student during the academic year just to keep up with the classroom’s resource needs.
It’s fair to say that teachers deserve all the breaks they can get. To help them out during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8-12) and year-round, we’ve compiled a list of discounts they can claim while shopping online and in-person.
Michigan-Specific Discounts
Michigan Education Association members can log in to a members-only section of their website to find an array of “deep discounts.” They also offer a “My Deals” mobile app to find local discounts.
The Detroit Institute of Arts (free educator pass)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum ($1 off or free general admission with the Museum’s Teacher Club)
Schuler Books (20%)
General Discounts
ID.me (register your .edu email to find K-12 teacher and staff, and university educator discounts)
My Education Discount (browse discounts by category)
Travel
The Shedd Aquarium (free general admission)
The National Park Service (15%—not valid on entry or camping fees)
The Detroit Institute of Arts (free educator pass)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum ($1 off or free general admission with the Museum’s Teacher Club)
Car rental discounts: Advantage Rent-A-Car (15% with promo code TEACHER), Alamo, Sixt Rent-a-Car (5% for teachers, students, and school employees).
Hotel discounts: Radisson (use ID 27707), Marriott Bonvoy, Motel 6 (10%), Wydham Hotels & Resorts (public school and university employees), Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort, Stay Sky (up to 25%).
Other travel discounts: Explorica, Student Universe, Universal Studios Hollywood, Vacations To Go, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood (20%).
Charities
DonorsChoose, Classful (Allow individuals to contribute directly to schools across the country)
AdoptAClassroom.org Spotlight Fund grants (This organization offers grants in several categories for educators. STEM teachers, art teachers, and teachers of color can apply for unique grants, as well as teachers who need support to make their classrooms more inclusive for students of all types)
Retail
Apple As much as $150 in Apple gift cards for purchasing certain models of iPads, MacBooks, and iMacs for K-12 educators, those in higher education, homeschool teachers. Click here for a step-by-Step process.
Target (15% discount on school supplies through Sept. 10. K-12 teachers and homeschool teachers)
Michaels (15-20% off purchases for all teachers, staff and faculty Pre-K through Post-Grad within the US, Teachers who work in daycare centers, early childhood learning centers and home schools, and Instructors/Teachers of After School Programs, Boys & Girls Clubs, etc.)
Amazon (Offers several ongoing discounts for educators)
Google (Offers promotional discounts on certain products and services)
Microsoft (5-10% discounts on select products and services)
Costco (Join Costco as a new member and receive a $20 Costco Shop Card, exclusively for teachers)
Dick Blick Art Supplies (10% on full-price art supplies with the Preferred Customer program)
FedEx Office (10% with enrollment in the Print Preferred program)
Joann (15% discount for K-12 public, private, parochial school teachers, higher education learning institution teachers, home school teachers, licensed childcare providers)
Office Depot (Now through July 1, teachers with a free Office Depot® OfficeMax® Rewards membership can earn 30% back in Bonus Rewards on a qualifying in-store purchase. Teachers must present the appropriate coupon available online here, a valid teacher ID, and their Office Depot® OfficeMax® Rewards Member number at checkout. Parents and students looking to celebrate a special teacher in their lives can also use the Teacher Gift Guide)
Party City (10% to 20% discounts on all purchases after registration)
Pencils.com (10% discount)
Adidas (30% discount online/in-store and 20% discount at factory outlets)
Columbia (10% discount—20% from 4/25-5/2)
J. Crew (15% off up to 4 times per month)
L.L. Bean (10% off order)
Ann Taylor LOFT (Present your teacher ID for 15% off full-price purchases)
Blue Nile (Verify your teaching status and get a special promo code for 15% off regular-price jewelry)
Bonobos (20% off all purchases)
Champion (Get 10% off at Champion.com)
Cole Haan (20% on all purchases)
Colorescience (15% discount on every order)
Dagne Dover (Register to receive 20% off purchases)
Handful (Verify your teacher status at ID.me for a 20% discount)
Hanes sites (Hanes.com, Champion.com, OneHanesPlace.com, JustMySize.com) (Verify your teacher status to save 10% on purchases)
Just My Size (10% off purchases when you verify your teacher status)
Karen Kane (Register with your school email to receive a 20% discount)
Madewell (Save 20% when you verify your teacher status)
PUMA (Take 10% off when you verify with ID.me)
Ray-Ban (15% discount on your purchase)
Reebok (Up to 50% discounts, online only)
Rothy’s (Special discounts available for verified teachers)
Under Armour (Save 20% on all purchases when you verify your status with ID.me)
Vera Bradley (Teachers get a 15% discount when they order online and verify their status)
Online & Phone Services
Adobe Creative Cloud (60% off monthly Creative Cloud subscriptions)
AT&T (Discounts may be available on select Unlimited Plans)
Canva (Free access to teachers at eligible schools)
HP (Exclusive discounts at HP Education Store after registration)
Lenovo (10-15% discounts on select products)
Quickbooks (Educators can receive a free license)
Verizon (Can save up to $25/per month on wireless plans)
Creative Fabrica (For $2.99/per month, educators can download up to five resources/materials per week)
Books, Sheet Music, & Media
Schuler Books (20%)
Barnes & Noble (20%)
Book Warehouse (15%)
First Book (50-90% off for teachers or administrators of low-income schools)
National Geographic ($1 per issue)
Scholastic (25%-50%)
Half-Price Books (10%)
Books-A-Million (20% off orders)
New York Times ( 50% off online and online + print subscriptions)
USA Today (Save over 45% on classroom sets)
Wall Street Journal ($48 annual digital or $170 annual print/digital subscriptions)
Washington Post (Save 50% on subscription rates)
Sheet Music Plus (Get an 8% rebate for music teachers and college music students)
Home & Cooking
Blue Apron ($110 off the first order)
Brooklyn Bedding (Get 25% off your order and free shipping with ID.me verification)
Curious Chef (Save 30% off purchases over $100)
GelPro (Get 25% off online purchases)
Home Chef (Teachers receive exclusive discounts when you verify with ID.me)
Overstock (Get a free Club O membership when you verify with ID.me)
Purple Mattress (Get 10% off your purchase when you verify your teacher status)
Saatva (Educators and school staff get $225 off a purchase of $1,000)
Health & Wellness
23&Me ($20-$100 savings on DNA kits)
Coolframes.com (Get a 5% discount with ID.me verification)
Headspace (Free access to all K-12 teachers, school administrators, and supporting staff)
Cars, Rental Cars, & Auto Insurance
General Motors‘ (discounts on some vehicle brands to teachers, administrators, support staff, and some family members)
Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance ($0 deductible when driving a car for school business or if vandalized on school grounds; $2,500 coverage for teaching materials or school-owned property stolen from your vehicle)
Budget Truck Rental (20% off local moves, 15% off one-way moves)
GM Educator Discount (Special discounted prices on select models)
SIXT Rent a Car (5% discount off U.S. car rentals)
Professional Associations for Educators
Association of American Educators classroom grant (Grant and scholarship programs are offered through the American Educators Foundation. The classroom grant and teacher scholarship program is offered twice a year. Annual deadlines for consideration are March 1 and October 1.)
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect changes to Office Depot’s rewards program for educators and to correct information regarding the Association of American Educators grant program.
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