I agree. Our schools are swimming in cash and superfluous administrators.
The requirement to buy these supplies is nothing more that fraud perpetrated on the parents of school age children.
And yes, the school systems have deals with manufacturers and distributors which help explain the reliance on brand names and specific distributors. The schools get cash back.
Plus it gets the little darlings used to the idea of "shared property". Just like good little socialists.
The SCHOOLS are not likely swimming in cash. If you do not buy your child folders, pencils, and other needed supplies where do you expect them to come from?
If the supplies are necessary, then the teacher will be buying them out of pocket (when she has already bought books for the classroom library, bulletin board supplies, dry erase markers, paper clips, staples, erasers, etc, etc.)
The teachers aren't trying to pull a fast one. They would be thrilled if the Administration would pony up.