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Here's The JCPS List of School Supplies. (But Families Should Hold Off Buying For a Bit.)

Louisville families now have an idea of what supplies kids need for public school.Jefferson County Public School on Friday released a much-anticipated list of fundamental school supplies for the 2014-15 academic year.Most students go back to school on Aug. 13.The districtwide list is new for JCPS. Earlier this month, chief academic officer Dewey Hensley said the district wanted to create a central list to help address cost inequalities at schools across JCPS. Some schools had no supply lists, whileothers' list could cost $50 or $60.The list was drafted last week by a group of JCPS principals.Schools will still be able to tailor the lists to meet their specific needs—which means families should hold off buying supplies until they hear directly from their child's school, said Mandy Simpson, a JCPS spokeswoman.It also comes as a response to a recommendation from the state auditor’s officefor the district to create school supply lists that are “consistent, fair and reasonable,” according to a letter sent Friday to district principals.The list includes what district leaders are considering necessary supplies for students to bring to the classroom when school starts, such as backpacks, notebooks, loose-leaf paper and pencils.“Principals will order additional classroom supplies based on teacher requests and the district will provide advisement and budgetary support as needed,” JCPS superintendent Donna Hargens said in a letter to school principals.Hargens also addressed the list Friday on Twitter:

Decisions on purchasing additional supplies will be left up to a school based decision making council.

Families are encouraged not to submit “wish-lists” to principals, according to the list.  However, if a class is working on a specific project that needs extra supplies, teachers may send home a list to parents of needed items.  A family may then make a donation if desired.Here is the JCPS fundamental school supplies list, broken down by grades.The district has not provided a fundamental list for high schools, as they look to continue “studying” what is needed for high school students.

Jacob Ryan is the managing editor of the Kentucky Center for Investigative reporting. He's an award-winning investigative reporter who joined LPM in 2014. Email Jacob at jryan@lpm.org.