By Jane Han



NEW YORK — Notebooks, pencils, glue, markers and toilet paper — What? Toilet paper?



Moms and dads of America are finding themselves doing a double-take at their children’s back-to-school list this year as a few new and unexpected items have popped up.



From toilet paper, paper plates and soap to garbage bags, students are getting expected to bring with them all kinds of common household supplies on their first day of school.



“I bought every item on the list but it’s weird that students have to bring these basic supplies you’d think the school should provide,” says Jina Kim, mother of a second-grader in New Jersey.



“It almost felt like I was shopping for a cleaning day at home,” said Kim, whose daughter was told to bring disinfectant wipes and cleaning spray, among other sanitary products as well. “Isn’t it too much to cram in one backpack?”



It is, but that’s not a big concern for schools nationwide as their tight budget continues to press down on them.



Since the recession began, at least 33 states have cut aid to K-12 schools, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-profit organization working on public policy issues.



Some states have made steeper cuts than others.



For example, Colorado is rolling back public school spending by $260 million, almost a 5-percent cut from the previous year, while Arizona eliminated preschool for 4,328 students.



“The reality is, public demand for quality public schools has never been greater when resources have never been arguably scarcer,” Gail Connelly, executive director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, said in an interview.



“Current circumstances are such that 42 states are experiencing severe budget cuts in funding for public schools,” she explained. “When principals and teachers have to make decisions around textbooks — textbooks as opposed to tissues — they’re going to pick text books because that’s where the priority is.”



Parents are likely to support this decision too, but many are frustrated that schools have to be budget-crunched to such an extreme in the first place.



“The government can print money to bail out banks, auto manufacturers and investment firms, but can’t bailout education?” wrote one blogger at an online parent’s forum.



Rachel Wang, mother of a fifth-grader, says, “My son will probably be asked for additional supplies mid-school year. I wonder what will be asked for next.”