We get a supply list, but not as nitpicky as what color to buy. PRior to 4th grade, my eldest was in a Waldrof School, they don’ use text books, the make their own based on the lesson plan. Her first year in Catholic School (5th), I covered all her books with paper sacks. Apparently no one does that anymore. She was a bit worried the first week of school, but I showed her how you could color the paper, make it her own thing and the stretchy cloth the other kids had, not so much. She was pretty stoked after that.