Parents throughout Green Country are double-checking lists of school supplies, buying clothes, and planning transportation schedules as major districts prepare to open the 2014-15 school year.
Some smaller districts in the state have already begun the fall semester, and of course some schools -- including several in the Tulsa area -- now have year-round classes.
In any case, school buses and young pedestrians will begin making the morning and early afternoon drive times a bit trickier in Tulsa beginning next week.
Health and safety experts urge parents to consider more than just how their kids get to school, and what they'll eat during the day.
They're also concerned about backpacks, which can get overloaded with books and other items to the point where they pose a risk of muscle strains and poor posture when worn incorrectly.
The National Safety Council offers these tips for backpack safety.
The Centers for Disease Control also urges parents to make sure kids are caught up on their immunizations before heading back to school.
Starting dates for some area districts:
- Tulsa Public Schools: Wednesday, Aug. 20
- Tulsa Union Schools: Wednesday, Aug. 20
- Jenks Public Schools: Tuesday, Aug. 19
- Broken Arrow Public Schools: Thursday, Aug. 21
- Claremore Public Schools: Thursday, Aug. 14