Don't you think some parents over-shop back to school supplies?

Yeah definitely! But I think that it makes sense to have the parents put out that money though because the school will always use it in the future. Obviously the school cannot afford everything so putting it on a school list that is smart because it divides the supplies the school needs among hundreds or thousands of people. This lowers the cost for the school and should not cause a heavy burden on parents. Quite honestly if you buy the most discounted items and watch for sales you can get your whole list for under $10. I got a free backpack from staples, 10 cent notebooks, 10 cent filler paper, 25 cent folders. Sure it all adds up, but it is still less.