Is it really almost time for students and teachers to head back into the classrooms?

You bet.

The school year seems to start earlier and earlier every year, and for some parents it’s always a surprise.

It shouldn’t be. The world has changed so much, just in the past decade alone. Parents must be much more informed than ever about what their children are doing. That means they should be involved in everything from homework, afterschool activities to browsing the Internet.

The demands on students’ time has become an incredible burden, and many children’s lives are so regimented — school, soccer practice, volunteering, church — that families seem to always seem to be in a rush.

Rushing around like that, you would think that parents would be more informed about what their students are doing.

But that’s not always the case. Indeed, sometimes parents drop their children off at school and for the next several hours, the child is merely someone else’s problem.

That’s not a viable option anymore. Today, parents must be involved with their children’s education to ensure the best future of the child.

There was a time when parents wanted their children to have it better than they did. Attentive parents — as well as attentive and well-trained educators — are an essential part of that equation.

Find out what your child is doing in school and how you can help. If you don’t, you’re not giving your children their best chance to succeed.