SPEAK OUT: School Supply Shopping Isn't What It Used to Be

Your back-to-school shopping list probably includes staples like pens and pencils, notebooks and backpacks. But studies show you may have to add a few new items to that list – such as electronic tablets and e-readers. 

The Sacramento Bee recently reported that in a CouponCabin survey from July 13, 19 percent of parents said their children’s schools require them to purchase tablets and 9 percent said schools require e-readers. 

According to the study, conducted by Harris Interactive, 24 percent of parents also said they have to buy computers for their children and 20 percent listed mobile phones as a school requirement.

In addition, a Staples representative told Wate.com that items like miniature shag carpets and flashing chandeliers are in demand for students’ lockers this year.

According to the Montgomery Village Middle School website, recommended school supplies include binders, paper, pencils, highlighters and folders, but the school does not require computers or tablets and provides graphing calculators for its algebra and geometry students.

Many parents are planning to shop early this year to save money – the CouponCabin study shows that more than half of those who shopped back-to-school supplies last year will do so earlier this year, and 37 percent may wait until after school starts to do their shopping, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Are electronic gadgets on your back-to-school shopping lists this year? How much do you expect to spend this year per child? Tell us in our poll and in the comments.