Back to School Guide (2025)

How to start the school year off right and finish strong

Back to School Guide (2025): how to start off right and finish strong
By Tim Spitzack | Editor | August 2025

The new school year is just around the corner and now is the time to begin preparing your child for a successful year of learning.

Summer reading is one of the best ways to keep students’ minds engaged. If you haven’t already done so, help them develop a reading plan for the final weeks of summer or enroll them in a program at your public library. It’s not too late to start.

Choosing a school – If you weren’t satisfied with your child’s school last year, now is the time to explore your options. Many schools host open houses and other enrollment events in August. Minnesota has open enrollment, which means families may choose a school that is not within their resident district. This includes public, magnet, parochial and charter schools, as well as homeschooling.

If your student is exploring post-secondary options, now is the time to make school visits and submit applications. With almost 200 public and private postsecondary institutions in Minnesota, students have many options close to home, including trade schools, two-year and four-year colleges and universities. The Minnesota Department of Education offers tips on how to choose and apply to a college, make campus visits, and finance your education. The biggest things to consider are geographic location (do you want to be in a city or rural area; close or far from home), school size and program options, and overall cost. To view the tips, visit ohe.state.mn.us and search “choosing a college.”

Purchase supplies early. This task can be an exciting time for some families and stressful for others due to the cost. Several nonprofits provide free backpacks and other supplies to area schools to help ensure that every child has what they need to start the year off right. If your child needs a backpack or supplies, contact the administration office of the school your student will be attending this fall.

Proper nutrition is important year-round. St. Paul Public Schools is providing free meals this summer to all children age 18 and under, even if they aren’t enrolled in the district. Meals are available at more than 50 schools, recreation centers, libraries and community sites, and the schools’ food truck serves burgers, sambusas, gyros and other favorites at parks and community centers around the city. For locations or more information, visit spps.org (search summer meals) or call 651-767-8100. Public schools also offer free meal programs throughout the year. Contact your school for more information.

Parental help is a key factor in student performance
Research has found that kids benefit significantly when parents and other caregivers are strongly involved in the child’s education. Specifically, children whose parents are more involved in their education have higher levels of academic performance than children whose parents are not as involved. Here are some strategies to help you get more involved once the school year begins.

• Develop a partnership with the teacher. Open communication with teachers can help parents stay up to date on what is going on in the classroom and learn early on where a student may need extra support. This allows parents to offer extra guidance, if needed, or look for an experienced tutor.
• Be firm but supportive. Too much academic pressure may cause a child to pull back or even test boundaries, and that can lead to students falling behind. Parents must find the right level of involvement and guide their kids without sounding like good grades “make or break” the relationship.
• Attend school functions. Parents can go to open houses, back-to-school nights, conferences, and other events held at school to show support and interest in their children’s education. Involved parents also build school-based networks this way, which can be called upon if their student needs additional support in the future.
• Establish a schedule at home. Students will benefit from a schedule with regular bedtime, homework time and opportunities to relax. This can take some of the stress out of learning and studying.

Study tips for a strong start
At the dawn of a new school year, students get a fresh start to improve upon or continue strong study habits. These study tips can optimize study skills and boost confidence inside and outside the classroom. Talking about these tips now will be less overwhelming than at the start of the year.

Ask for help. Asking a teacher or another student for help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a good strategy to develop early on. The longer one waits, the more difficult it may be to catch up on material. Study groups are also beneficial.

Devise a study plan. Setting goals and a plan of attack allows students to space out their studying over several days. This can reduce stress and make the task seem less cumbersome.

Avoid cram sessions. Devising a study plan is better than cramming the night before a test. The American Psychological Association says students may perform well on a test for which they’ve crammed, but that doesn’t mean they’ve truly learned the material. Studying with a goal of retaining the material long-term is important.

Learn how to actively study. Some students think that studying requires reading over the material or highlighting text. Active studying involves engaging with the material and constructing meaning from the text. One way to engage with the material is to try acting as the teacher and explaining concepts to another person.

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