Back to school: Shaky economy hits kids

A shopper makes her way through a 'back to school' aisle, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at a Big Kmart store in Saugus, Mass. The nation's retailers are entering the critical back-to-school season, the most important period behind the holiday season. However, economists — who closely monitor sentiment since consumer spending represents about two-thirds of all economic activity — didn't interpret the slight uptick as a beginning of a rebound in shoppers' mood. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

WASHINGTON - Hard times and higher fuel prices will follow kids back to school this fall.

Children will walk farther to the bus stop, pay more for lunch, study from old textbooks and wear last year's clothes. Field trips? Forget about it.

it could cost nearly twice as much to fuel the yellow buses

costs for air conditioning and heating, cafeteria food and classroom supplies are mounting

In rural Minnesota, one district is skipping classes every Monday to save fuel. On the other days, classes will be about 10 minutes longer

at least 14 other districts are switching to four-day weeks

a Jacksonville school actually had a toilet paper drive

school lunch prices will rise

More than half of all school children in this country get free and reduced-price lunches, and the government reimbursement is often not enough to cover the cost

As the cost rises, nutritional quality goes down

Schools are also cutting staff, in most cases eliminating positions that are vacant