This list of free stuff for teachers gives each freebie its exact test: your school\u2019s free-lunch share, your grade, your state. It also covers Teacher Appreciation Week, the $350 tax deduction for 2026, cash back on supplies you still buy, and nine \u201cfreebies\u201d other lists repeat that don\u2019t work as described.<\/p>\n
Key takeaways<\/p>\n
- \n
- 8 of the 15 are for your classroom:<\/strong> DonorsChoose has raised $2.01 billion for teachers since 2000, and 67% of its projects get fully funded.<\/li>\n
- Free supply stores test your school, not you:<\/strong> Classroom Central and the Kids In Need Foundation\u2019s Minnesota center take schools where at least half the students are low-income.<\/li>\n
- 7 tools and passes are free to you:<\/strong> Canva Pro would cost $144 a year, and SeaWorld Orlando\u2019s card is free to Florida K-12 teachers through September 2, 2027.<\/li>\n
- Teacher Appreciation Week runs May 2-8, 2027:<\/strong> in May 2026, McAlister\u2019s free tea needed no purchase, while Chipotle\u2019s free entr\u00e9e was a draw for up to 100,000 teachers.<\/li>\n
- Money back:<\/strong> the educator expense deduction rises from $300 for 2025 to $350 for 2026, and TopCashback paid 4% at Staples on October 15, 2026.<\/li>\n
- Other lists repeat 9 \u201cfreebies\u201d that are gone, cost money or work differently:<\/strong> Mattel\u2019s page, as search results show it, says it is not sending Hot Wheels classroom kits, and Crayola ended ColorCycle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Every freebie at a glance<\/h2>\n
\n 8 free things for your classroom<\/h2>\n
DonorsChoose<\/h3>\n
DonorsChoose<\/a><\/strong> lets you post a classroom wish list that the public pays for. Once it is funded, DonorsChoose buys the items and ships them to your school. Posting costs you nothing: \u201cOur site is absolutely free for teachers,\u201d its teacher page says.<\/p>\n
Its terms<\/a> limit accounts to \u201ca full-time employee of a PreK-12 public school, charter school, or Head Start Center in the 50 states or District of Columbia\u201d who works directly with students at least 75% of the time. Private school teachers don\u2019t qualify. You choose one of two routes:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Classroom Essentials.<\/strong> No minimum, a set list of basics, and items ship as money comes in.<\/li>\n
- Classroom Project.<\/strong> A $100 minimum and a short essay, with over a million products from more than 20 stores, including Lakeshore, Amazon and Staples. Nothing ships until it is fully funded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The catch is the clock. A project stays live for up to 4 months<\/a>, then expires, and you post a new version. Money from friends and family comes back to you as gift codes, while other donors get theirs back. Once funded, you owe donors a thank-you package with a letter and photos.<\/p>\n
Its counters show $2.01 billion raised since 2000 and 3.63 million projects funded, and 67% of projects reach full funding.<\/p>\n
![\"DonorsChoose](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-donorschoose-333314e4.png\" "\\"aide\\"")
Figures from DonorsChoose\u2019s impact page<\/a>, read October 15, 2026; it also counts 1.04 million teachers supported.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Big wishes do get funded. In August 2026, KPTV reported<\/a> that a Portland middle school cooking and sewing teacher had received roughly $14,000 in supplies through about 20 projects, from mixing bowls to stand mixers. An Oakland teacher told EdSource in 2019<\/a> about splitting a classroom makeover of just under $7,000 into three projects, so part of it would fund even if the rest didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for any public or charter school teacher. Ask for less than the $556 average funded project, and split a big wish into smaller ones.<\/p>\n
AdoptAClassroom.org<\/h3>\n
AdoptAClassroom.org<\/a><\/strong> gives you a classroom page that anyone can donate to. You then spend the money in its marketplace of more than 20 supply companies, and the items ship to your school. It counts $83 million raised and 330,000+ classrooms adopted.<\/p>\n
It takes more schools than DonorsChoose. Its eligibility rules<\/a> cover licensed teachers, administrators and other certified staff at \u201ca public or charter PreK-12 school,\u201d \u201can accredited private PreK-12 school,\u201d school-based or accredited public preschools, and Head Start programs. Homeschools are \u201coutside the scope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Registered teachers can also win money it hands out itself, per its funding page<\/a>:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Spotlight Fund grants.<\/strong> Due November 2, 2026 (Inclusive Classroom), February 26, 2027 (Racial Equity in Schools) and April 26, 2027 (STEM and Arts). Applications open about a month before each date.<\/li>\n
- A monthly giveaway.<\/strong> Two $500 classroom donations each month; enter from your dashboard by the last day of the month.<\/li>\n
- Donation matches.<\/strong> Seasonal matches that double what teachers receive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The catch: nothing arrives unless someone donates, and the funding page does not say how much a Spotlight grant is. Teachers who don\u2019t log in for more than six months may miss corporate partner donations until they do.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, and it is the one to use at a private school. Enter the free monthly giveaway even if no one has donated yet.<\/p>\n
Teacher free stores<\/h3>\n
A teacher free store is a warehouse of donated supplies where eligible teachers shop for nothing. The Kids In Need Foundation<\/a><\/strong> links a network of them that gives \u201cfree school supplies directly to teachers in under-resourced schools … at no cost to teachers or their schools.\u201d We counted 32 centers on its list on October 15, 2026, seven of them in Florida.<\/p>\n
You qualify by your school, not your pay. About half of US public schools (51.6%) had more than half their students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-23, NCES data<\/a> show. Each store sets its own rules:<\/p>\n
Rules from each store\u2019s own page, read October 15, 2026; Crayons and Beyond\u2019s from WKRC\u2019s July 2026 report<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The hauls are real. At the Minnesota center, CBS Minnesota reported in August 2025<\/a>, a teacher takes home about $540 of supplies a trip and can shop quarterly. Crayons and Beyond logged nearly 18,000 teacher visits in the 2025-26 school year, WKRC reported.<\/p>\n
Not every store is free past the door. A Baltimore supply swap gave a teacher\u2019s first load free, then charged $45 a year for unlimited visits, NPR reported in 2018<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> The best value on this list if a store near you takes your school. Search the Kids In Need network for your state, and book early: Classroom Central caps its appointments each month.<\/p>\n
Colgate classroom kit<\/h3>\n
Colgate\u2019s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures<\/a><\/strong> program sends free classroom kits for Head Start and kindergarten, \u201cfilled with fun dental games, Colgate samples, and more.\u201d Its page says the program \u201cis now open for 2026.\u201d Shipping pauses over the summer break and resumes in the fall.<\/p>\n
You request one through a sign-up form on that page. Colgate\u2019s kit information, as search results show it, says kits carry samples for 24 students, ship only to a school address (no P.O. box or home) and go first come, first served.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for Head Start and kindergarten teachers. Order early in the school year, while kits last.<\/p>\n
Every Kid Outdoors<\/h3>\n
Every Kid Outdoors<\/a><\/strong> gives every US fourth grader a free pass to national parks, lands and waters. Teachers at a US or military school can print \u201cone paper pass for each of their fourth-grade students\u201d by entering a name, work email and school. Youth leaders and home-school leaders can too.<\/p>\n
The 2026-27 pass expires August 31, 2027, its rules page<\/a> says. It admits \u201call children under 16 and up to three adults\u201d where fees are per person, or one carload where fees are per vehicle. It doesn\u2019t cover parking, camping, boats or special tours. Sites won\u2019t accept a copy of the paper pass, though you can convert it to a digital pass at recreation.gov.<\/p>\n
![\"Fewer](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-every-kid-outdoors-fd07a4b1.png\")
Passes issued when vouchers were redeemed at federal recreation sites, from the Every Kid Outdoors 2022-2023 Report<\/a>, the newest published; the same year, 1,464,919 vouchers were requested online.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Most vouchers are never turned into passes. In 2022-23, the program\u2019s own report<\/a> counts 1,464,919 vouchers requested and 143,926 passes issued at federal sites, still below the 203,688 of 2019. Passes issued had fallen to 105,877 in 2021, from 198,524 in 2017.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for fourth-grade teachers: printing a class set takes minutes, and each family gets free entry until August 31, 2027.<\/p>\n
PBS LearningMedia<\/h3>\n
PBS LearningMedia<\/a><\/strong> offers \u201cFREE, curriculum-aligned videos, interactives, lesson planning tips, discussion questions, and more just for teachers,\u201d curated with your local PBS station. A free account lets you save resources, see state standards, assign work and sync with Google Classroom.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes. Its site lists no paid tier for teachers.<\/p>\n
Teachers Pay Teachers free resources<\/h3>\n
Teachers Pay Teachers<\/a><\/strong> is a marketplace where teachers sell lesson plans and worksheets. Its Free filter showed 450,000+ results on October 15, 2026.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for printables, as long as you filter by price first.<\/p>\n
Crayola Creativity Week<\/h3>\n
Crayola Creativity Week<\/a><\/strong> is \u201ca free program for schools, libraries, and homes\u201d: seven days of downloadable resources, activity videos with celebrities, and giveaways. The next one, Creativity Around the World, runs January 25-31, 2027, and sign-up is open on its page.<\/p>\n
Crayola\u2019s older freebie is gone. Its ColorCycle page<\/a> says it made \u201cthe difficult decision to end the program\u201d that took used markers back from schools.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for art lessons in January. The giveaways are prizes, not a kit for every class.<\/p>\n
7 free tools and passes for you<\/h2>\n
Canva Education<\/h3>\n
Canva Education<\/a><\/strong> is free for \u201ca certified K-12 (primary or secondary) teacher from a formally accredited school\u201d who holds a teaching position, plus certified school librarians, support teachers and curriculum specialists. It gives you \u201cmost of Canva\u2019s premium features,\u201d class sharing and links to learning systems.<\/p>\n
Sign up with a verified school email and you get in right away; otherwise you upload a document, such as a teaching license, and Canva reviews it within 48 hours. Preschool and daycare assistants, unlicensed homeschool educators, tutors and college staff don\u2019t qualify. You re-verify every three years.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes. It replaces Canva Pro, which costs $144 a year, and the Canva app rates 4.87 from 3.58 million App Store ratings.<\/p>\n
Adobe Express K-12 Education<\/h3>\n
Adobe Express K-12 Education<\/a><\/strong> is \u201cfree for qualified K-12 educators,\u201d against a Premium price Adobe shows as \u201cregularly at US$9.99.\u201d It includes most Premium features, among them 250 generative AI credits a month and 4,000+ Adobe Fonts.<\/p>\n
You verify through SheerID; if that fails, you upload a teacher ID card or recent pay stub, Adobe\u2019s help page<\/a> says. Access lasts two years. If SheerID\u2019s database doesn\u2019t list your school, this route won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, if you prefer Adobe\u2019s templates or need its AI image tools. Most teachers will only need one of Canva or Adobe.<\/p>\n
Microsoft Office 365 A1<\/h3>\n
Office 365 A1<\/a><\/strong> gives \u201ceducators and students with an eligible education email address\u201d the web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote. Approval is usually instant, but can take up to a month if Microsoft hasn\u2019t verified your school.<\/p>\n
It lasts as long as you work at a qualified school. Leave, and you can view your files but not edit them. These are the web apps: Microsoft 365 Personal, with the desktop apps, costs $99.99 a year.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, if you have an eligible school email. College students get the same plan, as our free stuff for college students<\/a> list explains.<\/p>\n
Headspace for Educators<\/h3>\n
Headspace<\/a><\/strong> offers \u201cfree Headspace access to K-12 educators and school staff across the U.S.\u201d Its help center says public, private and charter school staff qualify, and that you must cancel a paid plan and let it expire before you enroll.<\/p>\n
Without it, Headspace costs $69.99 a year or $12.99 a month<\/a>. The app rates 4.84 from 973,810 App Store ratings. Bought at list price, Canva Pro ($144), Microsoft 365 Personal ($99.99) and Headspace ($69.99) would cost you $313.98 a year.<\/p>\n
![\"Canva](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-tool-value-5a85a263.png\")
US list prices read October 15, 2026 on Canva<\/a>, Microsoft<\/a> and Headspace<\/a>. Adobe shows Express Premium \u201cregularly at US$9.99\u201d without a billing period, so it is left off.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for US teachers who want a meditation app; it is open to support staff too.<\/p>\n
Kennedy Space Center Educator Study Pass<\/h3>\n
The Educator Study Pass<\/a><\/strong> gives \u201cK \u2013 12 teachers throughout the United States of America, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands complimentary access to the visitor complex.\u201d At Will Call you show a printed pass plus one proof: an active teaching certificate, a photo badge saying you teach K-12, or a signed letter from your principal on school letterhead.<\/p>\n
Your photo ID must match the pass at the turnstiles. Homeschool parents get a discounted rate instead, and the page doesn\u2019t say whether the pass covers guests.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for any US teacher visiting Florida\u2019s Space Coast. Bring the printout: Kennedy Space Center says it makes no exceptions.<\/p>\n
SeaWorld Florida Teacher Card<\/h3>\n
SeaWorld Orlando gives a free Florida Teacher Card<\/a><\/strong> to \u201call active and certified K-12 Florida grade school teachers who hold a valid Department of Education (DOE) number.\u201d It is good for unlimited visits through September 2, 2027. You must pre-register online with ID.me; the park can\u2019t sign you up.<\/p>\n
Teachers outside Florida aren\u2019t eligible. Private school teachers bring a letter from their principal, a Florida photo ID and a pay stub from the last 30 days to the gate. Adding Aquatica Orlando costs $49.99.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for Florida teachers who will go more than once before September 2027.<\/p>\n
LEGOLAND Florida Teacher Pass<\/h3>\n
\u201cFlorida Resident Teachers (Grades PreK-12)\u201d can get a LEGOLAND Florida Teacher Pass<\/a><\/strong>: a year of free admission from your first visit, the water park excluded. Adding the water park costs $59.99 plus tax.<\/p>\n
You sign up at the ticket window, not online, with a pay stub from the last 30 days, a Florida photo ID and a valid Florida teaching certificate. The same documents, emailed to Merlin\u2019s Orlando sales team, also get you free passes to Madame Tussauds Orlando, SEA LIFE Orlando and The Orlando Eye.<\/p>\n
Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for Florida teachers. Pair it with the SeaWorld card and a year of entry to both parks costs you nothing.<\/p>\n
Teacher Appreciation Week freebies<\/h2>\n
Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 runs May 2-8, National PTA says<\/a>. Brands set new offers each spring, so the May 2026 offers below show the pattern, not next year\u2019s deals. Most needed a school ID, and only some were free with nothing to buy.<\/p>\n
From each brand\u2019s own announcement; Einstein Bros. and Sonic as NBC Los Angeles reported them<\/a> on May 3, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Not every brand that ran a teacher week still does. Staples\u2019 teacher appreciation page reads \u201cOur Teacher Appreciation Days and Sweepstakes have ended.\u201d For the rest of the year, see our lists of places that offer a free meal<\/a> and ways to get free coffee<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Bottom line:<\/strong> Teacher Appreciation Week is mostly free food with a purchase or a draw. Keep your school ID in your wallet that week and verify with ID.me ahead of time.<\/p>\n
When to claim: the 2026-27 calendar<\/h2>\n
Several freebies on this list run to a date. The fourth-grade park pass year began September 1, 2026. AdoptAClassroom\u2019s grants are due November 2, 2026, February 26, 2027 and April 26, 2027, and Crayola\u2019s free week starts January 25, 2027. SeaWorld\u2019s Florida Teacher Card runs out September 2, 2027.<\/p>\n
![\"When](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-calendar-1caeabdb.png\")
Dates from Every Kid Outdoors<\/a>, AdoptAClassroom.org<\/a>, Crayola<\/a>, National PTA<\/a> and SeaWorld Orlando<\/a>, read October 15, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Cheap, not free: NAEIR, First Book and Scholastic points<\/h2>\n
Other lists call these three free. Each costs something, so they don\u2019t count among the 15, but each can stretch a supply budget.<\/p>\n
NAEIR Teachers Program<\/h3>\n
NAEIR<\/a><\/strong> passes on surplus products donated by companies such as Crayola, 3M, Avery and Hallmark. \u201cRegistration for qualified teachers is free,\u201d and shipping to your classroom or home is free too, except for pallets.<\/p>\n
But you pay \u201cnominal handling and processing fees\u201d on each item you pick, and NAEIR publishes no fee amounts. It says teachers generally pay less than a third of discount-store prices. Licensed classroom teachers, aides, librarians and counselors can apply, and accounts with no order in two years may be closed.<\/p>\n
First Book Marketplace<\/h3>\n
First Book<\/a><\/strong> membership is free if you work in \u201ca Title I-eligible school\u201d or any program where at least 70% of children come from low-income families. Books are \u201cdeeply discounted (and sometimes for free)\u201d: its Book Bank sends new books \u201cfor just the cost of shipping and processing.\u201d<\/p>\n
New members get a $25-off code for a first order, and free-book codes arrive by email now and then. About 63% of traditional public schools were Title I eligible in 2021-22, per NCES<\/a>, so most public school teachers can join.<\/p>\n
Scholastic Book Clubs points<\/h3>\n
Scholastic Book Clubs<\/a><\/strong> gives you 5 points for every $1 spent, on both families\u2019 orders and your own. You trade points for books and classroom items. Scholastic doesn\u2019t publish what a point is worth, so the books are paid for by your class\u2019s orders.<\/p>\n
Bottom line:<\/strong> First Book is the best of the three for a high-need school. NAEIR suits bulk supplies if you accept a handling fee you won\u2019t see until you shop.<\/p>\n
Money back on supplies you still buy<\/h2>\n
The educator expense deduction<\/h3>\n
The IRS lets an eligible educator deduct up to $300 of unreimbursed classroom costs for 2025, or $600 for a married couple who both qualify. You qualify if you are \u201ca kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide for at least 900 hours a school year,\u201d IRS Topic 458<\/a> says.<\/p>\n
Books, supplies, computer equipment and software, and professional development courses count. Supplies for health or PE classes count only if they are athletic supplies, and homeschooling costs never do.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-deduction-65e150e9.png\")
Limits from the IRS inflation notices: Rev. Proc. 2021-45<\/a> (2022), 2022-38<\/a> (2023), 2023-34<\/a> (2024), 2024-40<\/a> (2025) and 2025-32<\/a> (2026).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n For 2026, the limit is $350, under Rev. Proc. 2025-32<\/a>; it had been $300 since 2022. From 2026, the IRS adds, \u201ceducator expenses may also be deducted as itemized deductions,\u201d a route that covers PE equipment and coaches\u2019 equipment, per the Congressional Research Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n
You claim the deduction on line 11 of Schedule 1, whether you itemize or take the standard deduction. Keep your receipts.<\/p>\n
![\"Where](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-schedule-1-07faa691.png\")
Page 2 of Schedule 1 (Form 1040) 2025<\/a>, the form for returns filed in 2026. It is an adjustment to income, so you claim it without itemizing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Worth it?<\/strong> Always, if you spend your own money: it is free to claim. At a 12% tax rate, $350 of supplies saves you $42.<\/p>\n
Cash back on classroom supplies<\/h3>\n
A cash-back site pays you part of what a store pays it for sending you. TopCashback<\/a><\/strong> says it passes 100% of that commission back to you. There is no minimum to cash out by PayPal, Venmo or bank transfer, though select gift cards have one.<\/p>\n
Rakuten<\/a><\/strong> pays a $10 welcome bonus once your qualifying purchases reach $25 within 90 days of joining, per its terms; Amazon purchases don\u2019t count. Capital One Shopping<\/a><\/strong> is a free browser extension and app that checks for coupons and lower prices as you shop. Capital One says you don\u2019t need to be its customer to use it.<\/p>\n
TopCashback\u2019s rates from its Staples, Office Depot and Target store pages, read October 15, 2026; Rakuten\u2019s as its store pages showed in search results that day. Rates change often.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n On that day, TopCashback paid double Rakuten\u2019s rate at all three supply stores it lists. All three apps rate well on Apple\u2019s US App Store: Capital One Shopping 4.87, Rakuten 4.82 and TopCashback 4.74.<\/p>\n
![\"All](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-cashback-ratings-d0a1f15a.png\")
All-time average ratings from Apple\u2019s US store listings for Capital One Shopping<\/a>, Rakuten<\/a> and TopCashback<\/a>, read October 15, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Worth it?<\/strong> Yes, for supplies you buy anyway. Use TopCashback at Staples and Office Depot, and add Capital One Shopping to catch a lower price elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Teacher discounts that other lists call free<\/h3>\n
Most \u201cteacher freebies\u201d are discounts. These are the stores other lists name most, with the deal each one states:<\/p>\n
From each store\u2019s teacher page, October 15, 2026; Michaels, Office Depot, Half Price Books and Dollar General as their pages showed in search results. Target\u2019s price is from its May 2026 release<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> Michaels\u2019 15%, sale items included, beats Blick\u2019s 10% for craft supplies. Office Depot\u2019s 25% comes back as rewards for your next order, not money off today.<\/p>\n
What other lists call free, and what companies publish<\/h2>\n
These nine turn up on lists of teacher freebies. Here is what each company\u2019s own page said on October 15, 2026:<\/p>\n
\n Why freebies matter: teachers spend their own money<\/h2>\n
Almost every public school teacher pays for supplies. In the 2019-20 school year, 94.8% spent their own money without being paid back: $470 on average among those who spent, or $445 across all teachers,federal survey data<\/a> show. Of those who spent, 44.5% spent $250 or less and 36.0% spent $251 to $500; 4.7% spent $501 to $750, 7.8% spent $751 to $1,000, and 7.0% spent over $1,000.<\/p>\n
![\"Most](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-spend-bands-891a894c.png\")
From the NCES National Teacher and Principal Survey, 2020-21<\/a>, which asked about the 2019-20 school year; shares of the 94.8% of public school teachers who spent money without reimbursement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n A newer, opt-in survey puts the figure higher. AdoptAClassroom.org\u2019s June 2025 survey<\/a> found teachers spent $895 on average in 2024-25, against a median school supply budget of $200. Twenty percent of its respondents worked a second job.<\/p>\n
That is set against an average public school salary of $74,495 in 2024-25, by the NEA\u2019s count. If you need extra income in the summer, our guides to second jobs<\/a> and side hustle ideas<\/a> list options.<\/p>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.dollarbreak.com\/images\/free-stuff-for-teachers-teacher-money-805a4661.png\")
From the NCES teacher survey<\/a> (the average includes teachers who spent nothing), AdoptAClassroom.org\u2019s June 2025 survey<\/a> (an opt-in survey of teachers, with a different method) and NEA\u2019s Rankings and Estimates<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n How you prove you\u2019re a teacher<\/h2>\n
Most teacher offers check your job through ID.me or SheerID. Chipotle and SeaWorld used ID.me; Adobe and Michaels use SheerID. What each accepts:<\/p>\n
- \n
- ID.me.<\/strong> A state license or certificate number, or an upload: a school ID, a faculty web page screenshot, a teaching certificate, a contract, a signed letter on letterhead, or a pay stub or W-2, per its help page. Paper IDs aren\u2019t accepted.<\/li>\n
- SheerID.<\/strong> \u201cA teacher ID card with a valid date or a pay stub from the last 90 days,\u201d its teacher FAQ says, though brands set their own window: Michaels asks for a pay stub from the last 60 days.<\/li>\n
- Your school email.<\/strong> Canva and Microsoft let you in at once with a verified school address.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Bottom line:<\/strong> Set up an ID.me account and keep a recent pay stub as a PDF before Teacher Appreciation Week.<\/p>\n
Which freebies to claim first<\/h2>\n
Start with the ones that put supplies in your room, then claim the tools you would otherwise pay for. If your school passes a free-lunch test, a free store or First Book gives the most.<\/p>\n
\n\nWorth doing<\/p>\n
- \n
- A DonorsChoose project under $556, or an AdoptAClassroom page at a private school<\/li>\n
- A teacher free store, if one near you takes your school<\/li>\n
- Canva Education or Adobe Express, Headspace and Office 365 A1<\/li>\n
- Every Kid Outdoors passes, if you teach fourth grade<\/li>\n
- The educator expense deduction, and TopCashback on supplies you buy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
Skip<\/p>\n
- \n
- Hunting for Hot Wheels kits or Crayola marker recycling<\/li>\n
- \u201cFreebie\u201d lists that are mostly discounts<\/li>\n
- NAEIR, unless you accept handling fees you see only at checkout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
For classroom rewards, see our list of companies that mail free stickers<\/a>. For furniture and bins, sites like Freecycle<\/a> list free things near you.<\/p>\n
How we researched this<\/h2>\n
We read each program\u2019s own eligibility rules, terms and help pages on October 15, 2026, and quoted who qualifies rather than paraphrasing it. Figures come from the programs\u2019 own counters, the IRS, NCES, the NEA and the federal Every Kid Outdoors report, and teachers\u2019 results from the news reports linked beside them. Where a company\u2019s page refused us and we saw its wording only in search results, the page says so.<\/p>\n
Free Stuff for Teachers FAQ<\/h2>\n
What can teachers get for free by mail?<\/h3>\n
Colgate mails free dental kits to Head Start and kindergarten classes at a school address. DonorsChoose and AdoptAClassroom ship donor-funded supplies to your school. NAEIR ships for free but charges a handling fee on each item.<\/p>\n
How can teachers get a free computer?<\/h3>\n
No program on this list gives a teacher a computer outright. DonorsChoose projects can request laptops, Chromebooks and tablets for your classroom, which donors then fund. Apple\u2019s education pricing is a discount, not free.<\/p>\n
How do teachers get donations for their classroom?<\/h3>\n
Post a project on DonorsChoose if you work full-time at a public or charter school, or set up an AdoptAClassroom.org page, which also takes accredited private schools. Share the link with families, and enter AdoptAClassroom\u2019s monthly $500 giveaway.<\/p>\n
What do teachers get free during Teacher Appreciation Week?<\/h3>\n
Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 runs May 2-8. In May 2026, McAlister\u2019s Deli gave free tea with an educator ID and Chipotle gave free entr\u00e9es to teachers picked in a draw; most other offers needed a purchase.<\/p>\n
Is Canva free for teachers?<\/h3>\n
Yes. Canva Education is free for certified K-12 teachers at accredited schools anywhere in the world, with most Canva Pro features. Tutors, preschool assistants and unlicensed homeschool educators don\u2019t qualify.<\/p>\n
Do teachers get Netflix for free?<\/h3>\n
No. Netflix\u2019s help center lists no teacher plan or discount. It does allow one-time educational screenings<\/a> of some of its documentaries, watched through a Netflix account.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
- SheerID.<\/strong> \u201cA teacher ID card with a valid date or a pay stub from the last 90 days,\u201d its teacher FAQ says, though brands set their own window: Michaels asks for a pay stub from the last 60 days.<\/li>\n
- A monthly giveaway.<\/strong> Two $500 classroom donations each month; enter from your dashboard by the last day of the month.<\/li>\n
- Classroom Project.<\/strong> A $100 minimum and a short essay, with over a million products from more than 20 stores, including Lakeshore, Amazon and Staples. Nothing ships until it is fully funded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Free supply stores test your school, not you:<\/strong> Classroom Central and the Kids In Need Foundation\u2019s Minnesota center take schools where at least half the students are low-income.<\/li>\n