NBC News will be heading back to kindergarten this upcoming year.

Recently, NBC launched a project called Class of 2020, which will follow a group of 20 kindergarteners through their high school graduations 13 years from now.

First airing Sept. 14, NBC News producer Curtis Vogel made the show to educate Americans about public schools and the milestones happening within them.

But creating the show was no easy task. After getting permission from the Los Angeles Unified School District, NBC chose an undisclosed elementary school in North Hollywood for its diverse population. Producers then had to get permission from school principal Joanie Freckmann, teachers and parents of the students.

NBC News correspondent Natalie Morales will be reporting for Class of 2020 as viewers witness important educational milestones, the important role teachers play in educating and parents' involvement in their children's education.

"It'd be good if parents had a regular chance to view the film," psychology professor Keith Nelson said.

"That way, they would have a vivid and complete notion of what's happening at school," he said.

Nelson received his doctorate at Yale University and has done research on children's learning processes involving cognition, emotion and motivation.

Considering effects on the students' learning environment, the children should be able to have normal concentration as long as they're not singled out in the filming, Nelson said.

"If there's not exaggerated public attention, there's a good chance it'll be one more part of how things are done," Nelson said regarding the children's behavior.

NBC began filming the students Sept. 12, tracking them from when they woke up that morning.

Vogel plans on filming the students at least once a week, and then more during the important parts of the year.

"I think case studies are fascinating," Kathleen Hennessy (sophomore-communications) said. "It's great to see a person go through different stages of life."

As for deciding whether she would have her own possible children involved in a show like this, she said she would have to consider it for a while.

"I would talk to my husband first and to my family a lot; they raised children before I did," Hennessy said.

"I think they'd run into problems in fifth or sixth grade when kids say 'Ooh, you're the new kid with the camera crew,' " she said.

Concerned with confidentiality and safety of the students, the name of the school and the street it's on will not be released on the show. In addition, only the students' and parents' first names will be used.

Class of 2020 can be viewed on the Today Show, and updates can be found on their Web site, www.todayshow.com as well.

"Something like this could be positive," Nelson said. "If a teacher could be inspiring and give an idea of what they could learn, they can stop and say 'Wow, I really got there'."