Each year as summer draws to a close, teachers, parents, and students alike all begin their back to school preparations. Whether you are sending your child off to Pre-K for the first time, readying for classroom for a new set of students, or attending your freshman year of college, there's a lot to prepare for. Check out these resources that can help make sure you are ready to make this school year one of the best.

Parents

• Check out these back to school tips for parents of children with special needs Disclaimer and 10 ways to work toward Disclaimer a successful year.
• Sending your child off to college? Find out more about paying for college with federal student aid programs.
• Consult these research-based tools or the Helping Your Child booklets for practical lessons and information on bolstering your child's success at school.
• Use this month-by-month guide filled with advice, tools, and resources to help your child have a fun and educational school year.
• Kick the school year off right with these 5 simple ways to make the most of your child's first month back at school.
• Get answers with these FAQs [PDF, 993KB] for parents of elementary and middle-school children.
• Help your kindergartners learn to read.
• Know the steps that are important to helping your child with homework, and be prepared to resolve homework problems should they arise.

Students

• Whether you're years away from college or just about to start, these checklists will help better your chances of getting into – and being able to afford – the school of your choice.
• About to start college? Learn how budgeting can help you build decision making skills and reach your financial and academic goals.
• Consider these options if you didn't receive enough financial aid.
• Start thinking about graduate school finances early.
• Mark your calendar for October 1 - this is when the Free Application for Student Aid will be available for those who want to apply for the 2017-18 school year.

Educators

• Consult these research-based tools for student success.
• Determine whether your service as a teacher can help you get your federal student loans forgiven or canceled.
• Consider how you can prepare to prevent and address bullying in your classroom and use this training toolkit.
• Ensure you are prepared to meet needs of military children Disclaimer whose parents are deployed or in transition.
• Stay up to date - make sure school counselors understand what's new with the FAFSA.
• Keep in touch with what teachers across the country are doing in their classrooms -- and enhance your own PD by becoming a part of Teach to Lead.
• Get the latest news, teaching tips and more in your inbox by signing up for our Teachers Edition newsletter!