Here are some ideas that will help you shave costs on your back-to school shopping.

As busy as the school year is, it's still no time to let kids forget the importance of making a difference. There are plenty of simple ways to involve kids in the community when they're not in class.

While their parents are following the presidential campaign trail, students across the country will participate in their own election to name a "President of School Lunch" this fall. Students will learn about the candidates' nutritional values and physical fitness interests before casting their ballot to elect the nation's favorite school lunch.

A degree in criminal justice can lead to a wide variety of careers in crime prevention and corrections, including police officers, detectives, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists.

This fall, lessons in fashion won't just come from the runway. Style cues will originate from a less likely place - the school hallway. Several impending style trends will impact everything from school supplies to apparel this back-to-school season.

When the first day of school arrives and your child boards the school bus, it may come as quite a shock that they don't buckle up. But times are changing. Some school bus manufacturers now offer an optional seat belt system.

With current economic woes putting a damper on spending, parents and students are looking for the best value on everything from clothes to computers. And while saving money is a priority, value and style don't have to contradict each other.