The National, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca and
local news programs across Canada beginning Labour Day, Sept. 6

 CBC News is rolling out an extensive series of reports and insights from across Canada to help parents as they prepare to send their children back to class.

BACK TO SCHOOL STUDY GUIDE (cbcnews.ca/backtoschool) is a week-long series of stories beginning Monday, Sept. 6 on all CBC News platforms-The National, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca and local news programs across the country.

This can be one of the most daunting, stressful times of the entire year for parents. But CBC News has the answers they need. From putting together a healthy lunch to finding eco-friendly school supplies to understanding curriculum changes to the latest digital learning aids, this series of stories gives parents everything they need to know to get through the sometimes confusing, sometimes exhausting process of getting their kids ready to go back to school.

BACK TO SCHOOL STUDY GUIDE highlights:

THE NATIONAL - 10 p.m. (10:30 NT) on CBC-TV, 9 and 11 p.m. ET/PT on CBC News Network
Ian Hanomansing presents the "lunch box breakdown." On Monday, Sept. 6, he'll examine the pressures faced by parents as they try to pack nutritious lunches that kids will want to eat. Then Tuesday, Sept. 7, the focus shifts to food forensics when The National reveals the truth about what's really inside many pre-packaged lunch foods. Plus, Reg Sherren sits down for lunch at an Alberta school that is making healthy food popular with students.

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, CBC News investigates why new technology in schools is ringing some alarm bells. WiFi Internet service is now transmitted within many Canadian schools. But with its arrival, many kids have complained about health issues and headaches. So have WiFi waves been tested for their safety? Ioanna Roumeliotis investigates this invisible concern.

And touted as the greenest school in Canada, Windsor is set to open a new $17-million elementary school-Dr. David Suzuki Public School-where everyone's trying to get into the green.

CBC NEWS NETWORK
As children head back to school, parents have lots of questions. Watch CBC News Network daily for the answers.

CBC News' Colleen Jones will have a look at how fashion this year takes back-to-school back to the styles of the '70s. Plus, look for live reports as kids in much of the country say good-bye to summer and hello to their teachers.

CBC RADIO ONE
WORLD REPORT - mornings beginning at 5 a.m. (6 a.m. AT, 6:30 a.m. NT)
Start your day with an in-depth look into current education trends in Canada.
WORLD AT SIX - weekdays at 6 p.m. (6:30 p.m. NT)
Alison Smith takes listeners to schools across the country, to hear what's new from students, teachers and parents as the school year begins.

Feature stories on CBC Radio One include a report on Edmonton's Balwin School, where English as a second language is taught to students in their mother tongue, in addition to English. It's part of an ongoing educational controversy: many experts say fluency in the home language is the biggest key to academic success; opponents argue students need to be immersed in English as soon as possible.

No Jobs: Students are still having trouble finding jobs. More students now have less money to pursue higher education. Some will decide not to go to university or college at all, while others will take on more debt to get through.

RESP Confusion: CBC's economic reporters Havard Gould and Mike Hornbrook on what some Canadians might not know and need to know before opening an RESP.

Digital Divide: Laptops seem de rigueur for a lot of students these days. But they're not cheap-some parents and schools are struggling to afford them. Meanwhile, video games are becoming the latest teaching tool and some schools are struggling with how to use them. CBC's consumer reporter Lynne Robson reports. Plus, textbook-less schools: schools have started eliminating textbooks, replacing them with computers. A school in Toronto is about to begin this fall-and yes, there's an "app" for it...

CBCNEWS.CA - cbcnews.ca/backtoschool
CBCNews.ca offers a range of original stories and background material. Features include:
The future of education
Video of the newest and coolest gadgets
Back to school - the retail bonanza
Q&A: Beating the back to school blues
Database: How much sugar is in your kids' lunchboxes?
Mental health and university