As with ganapathi, there is also another shloka kids are usually thought before they start their studies is to pray goddess Maha Saraswathi for the successful education. Saraswathi is also considered a goddess of knowledge (vidya). wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraswathi
and the shloka goes :
ಸರಸ್ವತೀ ನಮಸ್ತುಭ್ಯಂ ವರದೇ ಕಾಮರೂಪಿಣೀ |
ವಿದ್ಯಾರಂಭಂ ಕರಿಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಸಿದ್ದಿರ್ಭವತು ಮೇ ಸದಾ ||
english transliteration:
saraswathi namastubhyaM varadE kaamaroopiNi
vidyaaraMbhaM kariShyaami siddir Bhavathu mE sadaa ||
vEdamantra 