Kankakee Times

State Representative Jackie Haas shared information about the cost of going back to school for the upcoming school year, stating, "According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on back-to-school shopping." She made the statement in an August 11 Facebook post.

"According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on back-to-school shopping," said Haas, according to Facebook.

In her Facebook post, Haas shared a link to an NBC Chicago article questioning whether the state is doing a back-to-school sales tax holiday for the new school year. According to state officials who confirmed to NBC Chicago, the event would not occur for the 2024 academic year. Although the sales tax holiday isn’t happening, NBC Chicago notes that the state has an education expense credit of up to 25% for back-to-school expenses over $250 and under $750.

Screenshot of Rep. Jackie Haas' Aug. 11 Facebook post | State Representative Jackie Haas Facebook page

The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that families with students in elementary and high schools plan to spend $874.68 on back-to-school shopping, which the NRF calls the second highest amount in the survey’s history.

NBC Chicago reports that the 2022 sales tax holiday was the most recent and ran from August 5-14. During this period, parents received reduced taxes on qualifying clothing, footwear, and school supplies used by students. Clothing that cost $125 or more did not qualify, nor did instructional materials like reference books and maps, computers and computer supplies, footwear, and protective equipment.

"The back-to-school and college season is an important time for retailers and consumers. Families and students are eager to get a jumpstart on their shopping for the start of the school year. Retailers have anticipated this early demand and are well-positioned to offer a variety of products at competitive prices," said Katherin Cullen, NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights, in a July 11 news release.

Rep. Jackie Haas was elected to represent Illinois’ 79th House District in December 2020. She is CEO of the Helen Wheeler Center for Community Health; she was a social worker at Riverside Medical Center and holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Valparaiso University as well as a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago, according to her biography from the Illinois General Assembly.