Clear the List 2026: A Teacher Classroom Wishlist Guide

Quick Answer: #ClearTheList is a movement, started in July 2019 by Texas teacher Courtney Jones, where teachers post classroom supply wishlists and community members buy the items. To run your own, build a free universal wishlist on GiftList, add supplies from any store, mark priorities, and share one link — reserved items are marked for other donors so the community can see what's already covered.

Every August, the same quiet math plays out in classrooms across the country: a teacher tallies what the school budget covers, looks at what the students actually need, and reaches for their own wallet to close the gap. More than 90% of teachers spend their own money on supplies, and out-of-pocket spending has climbed sharply in recent years (NEA). #ClearTheList exists to close that gap with community support instead. This guide explains what the movement is and walks you through building and sharing a classroom wishlist that actually gets cleared.

What Is the #ClearTheList Movement?

#ClearTheList is a grassroots movement in which teachers publicly post the supplies their classrooms need and community members buy items off the list. It started on July 1, 2019 with Courtney Jones, a Texas teacher who created a Facebook group to help educators get items from their wishlists; the "Clear the List" hashtag followed (WHSV, AdoptAClassroom.org).

The idea spread fast. By Jones's own account, the group had over 30,000 members within about three weeks and topped 125,000 within roughly six (Yahoo Life). The movement eventually became the nonprofit ClearTheList Foundation, drawing support from celebrities and public figures along the way.

Part of what makes it work is how it fans out locally. Teachers tag their posts with regional hashtags — #ClearTheListNJ, #ClearTheListPA, #ClearTheListDE, and other state-level tags — so supporters can find and "clear" lists for educators in their own state or town. The mechanics are simple: post a list, share the link, and let supporters claim items one by one.

Why Do Teachers Rely on Classroom Wishlists?

Teachers rely on wishlists because school-provided budgets rarely cover a full classroom, and the shortfall lands on the teacher personally. Federal survey data found 94.8% of public school teachers spent their own money on classroom supplies without reimbursement in the 2019–20 school year (NCES). AdoptAClassroom's 2025 survey reports a median school supply budget of only around $200 — far below what a year of consumables costs (AdoptAClassroom.org).

The out-of-pocket totals keep rising. AdoptAClassroom's 2025 survey found teachers spent an average of $895 on school supplies during the 2024–25 school year, up 49% since 2015 (AdoptAClassroom.org). When a single viral campaign first put a number on it, the figure that stunned people was close to $500 per teacher just to set up a room (NBC News).

A shareable wishlist turns that private expense into a transparent, opt-in ask. Instead of one teacher absorbing the cost, a whole community — parents, alumni, local businesses, and strangers who just want to help — can each cover a piece.

How Do You Build a Classroom Wishlist on GiftList?

You build a classroom wishlist by creating a free list, adding the supplies you need from any store, organizing them by subject and priority, and sharing one link. Here is the step-by-step.

Step 1: Create Your Free List

Go to GiftList and create your free account by email, or use the iOS or Android app. There are no fees, no premium tiers, and no item limits — you can list everything from a $2 glue stick to a big-ticket classroom rug. Name the list clearly, like "Ms. Rivera's 3rd Grade — Clear the List 2026," so supporters know exactly whose classroom they are helping.

Step 2: Add Supplies From Any Store

GiftList is a universal wishlist, so you are not locked to a single retailer. Paste a product link from any online store — Target, Walmart, a specialty teacher-supply shop, or Amazon — and the item auto-fills with its title, image, and price. To add items even faster, install the browser extension for one-click saving while you shop, or use the in-app browser on mobile.

You can also add items that have no link — "extra copy paper," a laminating request, or a classroom experience — by entering them manually. Not sure what to prioritize? You can even ask Genie, our AI gift finder, for ideas by grade level and subject.

Step 3: Organize by Subject and Priority

A tidy list gets cleared faster because donors can find something in their budget at a glance. Two GiftList features help here:

• Tags — add custom tags like Art, Reading Corner, Consumables, or STEM. Supporters see the tag on each item, so they can spot the category they want to cover, and you can filter your own list by tag while you build it.
• Most Wanted — flag the items you need most (the classroom essentials) so donors know what to prioritize when they can only give a little.

One default worth changing for a classroom: GiftList hides reservations from the list owner so a gift stays a surprise, which is backwards when you need to know what is arriving. Open the Gift Tracker tab to see what has been claimed, and opt in to be notified when someone buys from your list (it is off by default).

For a big-ticket item several people could chip in on — a reading rug, a set of headphones, a class library upgrade — you can turn on group gifting or add a cash fund, and contributions go directly to you via Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or Cash App with no fees and no middleman.

Why Use a Universal List Instead of a Bare Amazon Wish List?

A universal list beats a single-store wishlist because it lets donors shop wherever they want, coordinates claimed items across everyone, and keeps your sharing simple. A bare Amazon Wish List ties every supporter to one retailer and one shipping setup; a universal list separates the what from the where.

Here is how the two compare for a classroom #ClearTheList:

The duplicate-protection row matters most for a classroom. When a donor reserves or buys an item on GiftList, it is marked for the other donors viewing the list, so the community can see what is already covered instead of four boxes of the same markers arriving. (Purchases made outside GiftList can't be detected, so it reduces duplicates rather than eliminating them.) Donors also need no account or email to view and buy, which removes friction for the community members most likely to help.

Delivery is worth a note too. Amazon hides your street address from gift buyers on a shared list, showing only name, city, and state (Amazon). What a universal list adds is free-text delivery instructions — most teachers use them to route donations to the school office rather than a home address, and to say so plainly on the list. If you're moving off a single-store setup, our guide to universal wishlists vs. Amazon lists walks through the switch.

How Should Teachers Share a #ClearTheList Wishlist?

Share your wishlist as one link across every channel where your community already gathers — social media, school communications, and parent groups. Because GiftList generates a single shareable link, you post the same URL everywhere and everyone sees the same live, up-to-date list.

Here is where to share it:

• Social media — post the link with #ClearTheList plus your regional hashtag (e.g., #ClearTheListNJ) so local supporters can find it. Tag it during back-to-school season for maximum reach.
• Class newsletter and email — include the link in your welcome-back note to families; parents are often the first to clear a few items.
• PTA and community groups — share in your PTA Facebook group, neighborhood app, or local "buy nothing" group.
• Text and QR code — drop the link in a group text, or turn it into a QR code for back-to-school night.

For a full walkthrough of sharing options and etiquette, see how to share a gift list online. If your list is tied to the start of the year, you can also point families to our back-to-school wishlist resources.

What Are the #ClearTheList Etiquette Rules?

The golden rule of a classroom wishlist is to keep it transparent, focused, and gracious: ask only for classroom needs, make it easy to give, and thank every donor. A little etiquette keeps the goodwill flowing and gets your list cleared again next year.

Thanking donors is more than manners — it is what turns a one-time helper into a repeat supporter and encourages them to share your list further. A quick post with a photo of the supplies in use (with student privacy respected) closes the loop beautifully.

When Should Teachers Post a Classroom Wishlist?

The best time to post is back-to-school season, when the movement is most active and supporters are actively looking for teachers to help. This is when your list has the best odds of getting cleared quickly.

That said, classroom needs run all year. Consumables like tissues, glue, and paper get used up by winter; holiday and seasonal projects create new needs; and spring brings testing supplies and end-of-year rewards. Refreshing and re-sharing your list mid-year is not only fine — it is expected. Keep your list evergreen, update the Most Wanted flags as priorities shift, and re-post the same link whenever there is a fresh need.

Ready to run your own #ClearTheList? Create your free classroom wishlist and share one link with your community — no fees, no item limits, and a clear view of what's already covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is #ClearTheList?

#ClearTheList is a grassroots movement, launched in July 2019 by Texas teacher Courtney Jones, in which teachers post their classroom supply wishlists online and community members, parents, and strangers buy items to help. It grew to over 30,000 members in about three weeks and topped 125,000 within roughly six weeks, later becoming the nonprofit ClearTheList Foundation.

How do teachers get their classroom supplies donated?

Teachers build a wishlist of the supplies they need, then share the link publicly with the #ClearTheList hashtag on social media, in class newsletters, and in PTA groups. Supporters open the link, pick an item, and buy it. On GiftList, reserved and purchased items are marked for other donors, so supporters can see what is already covered.

Is GiftList free for teachers to use?

Yes. GiftList is 100% free with no premium tiers, item limits, or fees. Teachers can create unlimited lists, add supplies from any online store, organize items by subject or priority, and share one link. Donors do not need an account or even an email to view the list and buy an item.

Why use a universal wishlist instead of an Amazon Wish List?

A universal list lets you add supplies from any store — Target, Walmart, a teacher-supply shop, or Amazon — instead of locking donors to one retailer, so they can price-shop or use store credit. It also shows what has already been claimed across every donor, which a bare single-store list does not coordinate as clearly.

When is the best time to post a classroom wishlist?

Back-to-school season is when the movement is most active and supporters are actively looking for teachers to help. But classroom needs run all year — restocking consumables mid-year, holiday projects, and spring supplies — so it is fine to refresh and re-share your list any season.

Is it appropriate for teachers to ask for classroom donations?

Yes, and it is increasingly common. More than 90% of teachers spend their own money on supplies, so a public wishlist is a transparent, opt-in way for the community to help. Check your district or school policy on donations first, keep requests focused on classroom needs, and thank donors to keep goodwill strong.