Almost 90% of U.S. public schools have a teacher who’s used DonorsChoose, giving us the opportunity to collect insights directly from educators on what it’s like to teach this school year and what’s happening in America’s classrooms.
In Spring 2025, we surveyed public school teachers who use DonorsChoose. These are the top four takeaways from the survey.
1. Without community funding, teachers would be spending more than double on their classrooms
On average, DonorsChoose teachers are spending $655 of their own money for their classrooms this school year. Teachers say that if it weren’t for DonorsChoose, they’d be spending, on average, over $1,400 out-of-pocket on school supplies this year.
Educators are concerned about inflation and nearly 50% of all teachers report having a second job. 15% of teachers report working over 10 hours per week at another job. Some of the most common types of work teachers are taking on to supplement their income are tutoring, sports coaching, bartending and serving, and retail work.
“Materials are becoming harder to purchase on our own [given] inflation. My paycheck has not gone up, but supplies and things I need for my students have increased.” — High School Teacher, Texas
2. Most teachers don’t have the resources to prepare students for the future
More than 50% of teachers say that they do not have the resources to prepare their students for future careers. When asked which resources would help them achieve this, teachers most often mentioned:
- Hands-on learning experiences for students, such as vocational training and real-world job experiences
- Life skills and soft skills like financial literacy, resume writing, and conflict resolution
- Technology and specialized digital tools, such as tablets, software, and lab equipment
- Literature that’s up-to-date with the current job market and that reflects students’ career interests
- Resources for students with disabilities
Teachers also report needing more professional development to meet the wide-ranging needs of their students, including training focused on career readiness for students. Among other top professional development needs highlighted by educators are:
- Classroom management
- Special education and diverse learning
- Content-specific training
- Social-emotional learning and mental health
- Technology integration into administrative work and curriculum
“[I’d like] professional development on how to incorporate new AI technology or how to use it for lesson development.” — High School Teacher, Illinois
“As a graduation coach, I need courses [made specifically] for advisors and counseling, academic support, [and] [tapping] into community resources.” — High School Teacher, Tennessee
3. Schools need more funding, people power, and mental health support
In our survey, teachers most often cite these as the top challenges in their school environments: funding, professional burnout, compensation and benefits, and their own and their students’ mental health.
The majority of teachers say that their school is somewhat understaffed, and educators often report the need for social workers and mental health professionals in their school.
Over 60% of DonorsChoose teachers are concerned or very concerned about their students’ mental health, and high school teachers are the most concerned.
Educators are also noticing that students struggle to stay engaged with school. More than 68% of teachers agree that student attendance is a problem in their classroom. Again, high school teachers are the most concerned group, and at underserved rural schools, the percentage of concerned teachers is slightly higher.
“My students have had a lot of trouble with attendance….They struggle with homework and face violence on their walks home. We all had trouble breathing during the fires, and some students had family members that lost homes in L.A.” — Middle and High School Teacher, California
4. Teachers still want to teach, but they need continued resources to keep doing it
53% of teachers plan to teach for another decade.
“Rewarding,” "challenging," and “exhausting” are the three words DonorsChoose teachers use the most to describe what it’s like to be an educator this school year.
We asked teachers what would inspire them to want to stay in the profession. They frequently mentioned:
- Increased salary
- Smaller class size
- More time for preparation and planning
- A more supportive school environment
- Mental health support for teachers
“I love my job, but it feels like I'm not doing enough, that I can't do enough.” - High School Teacher, Massachusetts
“Kids these days go through so much that they should never have to. Days are hard, weeks can be long, but it's worth every second to be with these kids.” — Elementary and Middle School Teacher, Oklahoma
What’s next
The DonorsChoose team is applying the knowledge gained from this survey to new ideas for driving more support for public school teachers and their students. If you’re in a position to help, consider supporting a teacher near you.
The science (and math) behind the survey
- This survey collected responses from 2,552 United States public school classroom teachers who used DonorsChoose in March 2025.
- The survey asked teachers about their experiences in the 2024-25 academic year.
- In addition to the data analysis based on answers from the full teacher group, the DonorsChoose team analyzed the data based on responses from teachers who work at Equity Focus Schools.
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