Every student in the Kent School District will receive free core school supplies for the upcoming 2025–2026 academic year, district officials announced this week in a sweeping initiative aimed at removing financial barriers and ensuring classroom equity.
“This effort is about removing barriers and ensuring every child, in every classroom, has what they need to learn,” said Superintendent Israel Vela. “It sends a strong message to students: You are valued, and your education matters.”
What’s Included
Each student will receive a standard set of grade-level school supplies, distributed at the start of the school year. These supplies will be consistent across the district and designed to meet basic classroom needs.
What Families Can Bring
While the district will provide core supplies, families are welcome to send personal items such as:
- Backpacks
- Lunch boxes
- Reusable water bottles
Where to Find More Information
Each school’s website will be updated by mid-summer with grade-level supply lists, outlining what is included in the district-provided kits.
District officials say the initiative was made possible through a combination of prioritized district funding and support from local community partners, including Communities in Schools of South King County, Kent Youth and Family Services, Steamboat Studios, Unleash the Brilliance, Varsity Tutors, and World Vision.
“Providing essential supplies to every student is an investment in their learning, confidence, and success,” Vela added. “We’re thankful to our community partners for joining us in making this vision a reality. By working together to support all students, we embody the OneKSD spirit—OneClass, OneTeam, OneCommunity.”
While families are welcome to send personal items such as backpacks, lunch boxes, and reusable water bottles, the district will handle the rest. School websites will be updated by mid-summer with grade-specific supply lists outlining what will be provided.
Community Partners
Thanks to the generosity of our community partners including local PTA groups, faith-based organizations, and community members, we are not alone in this work—it takes an entire community coming together to support our students and families.
- Communities in Schools of South King County
- Kent Youth and Family Services
- Steamboat Studios
- Unleash the Brilliance
- Varsity Tutors
- World Vision
Mark Your Calendar
The first day of the 2026-2026 school year is Aug. 27, 2025. With this new program in place, families can focus more on preparing for a successful year and less on shopping for school supplies.
About the Kent School District
The Kent School District serves over 70 square miles of south King County including the cities of Kent, Covington, and portions of Auburn, Black Diamond, Maple Valley, Renton, and SeaTac. It is one of the most diverse school districts in the state and country with over 135 languages spoken by its students. Kent School District is highly regarded for its excellent teaching corps, steadily improving academic achievement, commitment to all students, strong financial management, innovative classroom technology, and coordinated school safety. More info here.
