Child's Back-to-School Check List: Don't Forget Pencils and Paper; Parents' Back-to-School Check List: Don't Forget Prepaid College Plan.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The boy stuffing pencils and paper into his backpack and the girl waiting for the bright yellow bus are concentrating on going back to school. Their parents may want to look further ahead into their children's future.

As the school year begins, it's a smart time to consider that college is one year closer. Parents should consider purchasing a Florida Prepaid College Plan for their children. The purchase of a Florida Prepaid College Plan allows the buyer to pre-pay tuition, fees and dormitory housing at today's plan prices for tomorrow's college education.

For example, the parents who bought a Florida Prepaid College Plan for their child entering kindergarten in 1994 paid a single payment of $5,722 for a four-year university tuition plan. This year when their child enrolls at a state university, the parents would be paying at least $11,500 for tuition over the next four years if they didn't have a Florida Prepaid College Plan.

"My son's education is paid for, and I don't have to worry about affording it in the future," said accountant Richard Jung of Orlando, who recently purchased a Florida Prepaid College Plan for his 5-year-old son entering kindergarten. "Now, I just have to concentrate on getting him through school and life until he can enter college."

While college expenses continue to climb, the Florida Prepaid College Plan makes saving for a college education easy, affordable and tax-free. Families purchasing a Florida Prepaid College Plan can start saving today on tuition, fees and dormitory housing that will be more expensive by the time their children are ready to enroll in a community college or university.

Teacher Jennifer Bryant of St. Petersburg bought Florida Prepaid College Plans for her 4-year-old and 6-year-old when they were newborns.

"We knew we would have a hard time saving, or coming up with a lump sum when it was time for them to go to college. So we treat it just like a bill, always to be paid," Bryant said. "We want it to be a gift with the expectation that secondary education is needed in today's world."

For as little as $1 a day, you can purchase a community college tuition plan for a newborn. Costs depend on the plan and the age of the child. You may sign up today, but you will be subject to 2007-08 plan prices that will go into effect when annual open enrollment begins October 15. Not only parents but also grandparents, friends and businesses can buy a plan. However the child or child's parent or guardian must be a Florida resident.

Six-year-old twins Shane and Kayla are off to first grade in Tallahassee this school year, and their parents have just finished five years of paying for their Florida Prepaid College Plans. "It was a little scary at first, thinking about that amount for five years with twins," said Kari Pichard a dental hygienist, who's almost paid off a separate plan for her youngest son Ryan. "But now it's done, and we don't have to worry about it. We did budget for it. We're really glad we did it."

Visit www.florida529plans.com to sign up online. Call 1-800-552-GRAD (4723) for more information.