May 26, 2017

The end of the school year is a great time to say “thank you” to your child’s teacher. Parents may wonder what gifts are appropriate. The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) shares these guidelines for giving your child’s teacher a gift:

• The best gifts are free! Help your child decorate a card or write a letter with examples of how the teacher has helped them this year. Teachers aren’t in it for the money. Many teachers consider a note that expresses how much they are appreciated to be the most meaningful gift.
• Be careful with food. Some teachers may enjoy baked goods and homemade food— but these can’t be shared with students and may not be eaten because of dietary restrictions or food allergies, or because the teacher simply does not know where the food came from.
• Keep gift cards under $50 and don’t give cash. If you don’t know what to get your child’s teacher, a gift card is a great option. Teachers are prohibited from accepting cash in any amount, and most districts prohibit gifts of more than $50 in value.
• Check with the principal. Some districts don’t allow teachers to accept gifts. You can check with the principal or district administration to see what their policies are on gift giving.

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The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) has been a strong voice for Texas educators since 1980. It is the leading educators’ association in Texas with more than 100,000 members statewide. With its strong collaborative philosophy, ATPE speaks for classroom teachers, administrators, future, retired and para-educators and works to create better opportunities for 5 million public schoolchildren. ATPE is the ally and the voice of Texas public education.