"A new online registry for teachers created by Minnesota-based Anderson’s, is launching at the Minnesota State Fair, just in time for back to school," according to a news release. "Similar to registries for babies and brides, Gold Star Registry is designed to allow teachers to post a wish list of the supplemental classroom tools that enhance their learning environment, such as skill-builders, achievement awards and learning incentives. The registry provides the curriculum aids they need to teach and motivate students while enabling parents, parent-teacher associations and other supportive community members to contribute the exact supplies requested by the teachers."

A Quality Education Data survey said that teachers in the United States spend an average of $475 of their own money on supplies for their students and classrooms each year.

"Gold Star Registry aims to help alleviate pressure on teacher pocketbooks by enabling parents and others to contribute the exact supplies teachers indicate they need most. The service lets the teacher take advantage of the Internet to build upon the lists of classroom items needed that teachers typically send out at the beginning of the year," the release said.

To use the service, teachers register at a website, www.goldstarregistry.com. There, they can build an online wish list from the more than 6,000 available products from 16 education publishers that have been recommended by teachers. Teachers can update their wish lists while also indicating the preferred delivery date of materials at any time throughout the school year.

Parents, parent teacher associations and others can then log onto an individual teacher’s registry and purchase items, knowing that 100 percent of the gift goes directly to the teacher. Purchases are shipped to the school.

For more information, visit www.goldstarregistry.com.