The start of a new school year brings excitement, fresh opportunities and plenty of adjustments. From new teachers and classrooms to changing routines and growing academic expectations, the back-to-school season is a significant transition for students and families alike. For youth in foster care and those facing financial or personal challenges, these changes can feel even more overwhelming without the right support.

Preparing students for success means more than checking off a school supply list. It means creating consistent routines, supporting mental health, ensuring access to learning tools and surrounding young people with caring adults who encourage them every step of the way. 

At KVC Nebraska, we’re committed to providing back-to-school support for Nebraska youth through programs, resources and community partnerships that help students begin the school year with confidence. Ultimately, success in school requires a wide variety of support!

Academic and Emotional Readiness

The transition to school routines can be challenging after the less structured summer break, presenting unique mental health challenges for youth. If a teen is entering middle or high school for the first time or attending a new school district, this transition can feel even more overwhelming. Without mental health support, teens may face increased anxiety and depression, struggle to connect with their peers and lack motivation for academic success.

In addition to providing emotional support and a safe space at home to decompress, parents and caregivers can help students be even more successful by creating healthy routines. According to Head Start, “Just like adults, children feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar.” Routines give youth a sense of familiarity and control, making it easier for them to feel comfortable and effectively engage in learning.

Here are a few ways to create better routines for back-to-school support:

• Have set screen-free mealtimes as a family
• Keep to a consistent bedtime, with routines to wind down at least an hour before lights out
• Set aside time after school for homework, and be available if they need help
• Create morning routines with a consistent wake-up time and a healthy, energizing breakfast
• Include your teen in deciding on the daily routines, giving them some decision-making authority over their day

The Role of Tools in Student Success

School supplies and technology resources have become central to the success of middle and high school students, but they aren’t always easy to come by. Research shows that one-third of families say they cannot afford necessary school supplies — that’s a 5% increase from 2023. 

Separate from the basic school supplies needed in the classroom, some families cannot afford a home computer, leading to limited technology access for youth, which can cause them to fall behind in school. Even with the many free AI resources now available, youth cannot access them if they don’t have regular internet access.

Nebraska Youth are No Exception

Nebraska is not an exception to the reality of gaps in resources limiting youth academic success:

• 12% of children in Nebraska are currently living below the poverty line
• 22% of Nebraska youth won’t graduate from high school
• 50% of Nebraska students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, putting them at a lower income threshold

With these statistics in mind, it should come as no surprise that a number of youth in Nebraska are unable to afford basic school supplies. Youth in foster care are at the highest risk as they are transitioned between different homes and cannot be guaranteed a stable environment with adequate financial resources.

Understanding AI as a Support Tool

The most valuable learning happens through conversation, encouragement, feedback and relationships. These are things that no technology can fully replace.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a more common part of education, offering students new ways to organize assignments, brainstorm ideas, review material and strengthen study habits. When used thoughtfully, AI can be a helpful learning tool that encourages curiosity, reinforces concepts and helps students build confidence as they tackle challenging subjects.

However, AI should never replace the human relationships that are essential to learning. Teachers, caregivers and mentors play an irreplaceable role by offering encouragement, answering questions, providing constructive feedback and helping students develop critical thinking skills. They also help young people build emotional intelligence, resilience and confidence: qualities that technology simply cannot teach.

Caregivers can help students develop healthy AI habits by encouraging them to use these tools to support learning rather than complete assignments for them. For example, students might use AI to create practice questions, explain difficult concepts in a different way or help organize a study plan before putting what they’ve learned into practice on their own. 

These conversations also create opportunities to discuss responsible technology use, academic integrity and the importance of thinking critically about information found online. By combining technology with the guidance of trusted adults, students can develop the knowledge, confidence and problem-solving skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond.

Community-Based Back-to-School Support for Nebraska Youth

Community-based support systems are vital for helping students of all backgrounds and living situations access the tools they need to succeed in school. In addition to our annual back-to-school drive, which provides donated backpacks and school supplies to youth experiencing foster care across Nebraska, KVC Nebraska offers components of the Fostering Educational Success (FES) curriculum to system-involved families and other youth who have experienced difficulty engaging in school.

These educational supports help youth succeed academically through:

• Guidance for developing strong homework routines
• Life skills training to prepare for adulthood
• Advocacy for students in the classroom

Help Nebraska Youth Start the School Year Strong

While the support of compassionate caregivers and dedicated educators is paramount in youth academic success, we believe every child should be able to enter the classroom with the same tools and resources to aid their learning journey. KVC Nebraska’s back-to-school drive bridges the gap by ensuring that no youth walks into the classroom without a backpack full of notebooks, pencils and every other learning tool they need to keep up with their peers.

If you want to help create a brighter future for Nebraska’s youth by meeting this need, contribute to the back-to-school drive here!