A bill introduced in Congress today would expand access to high-quality preschool for 4-year-old children from low and moderate income families. Read a summary of the bill and a fact sheet.

A teaching method that started in Italy, and isn’t often seen in low-income communities, is helping pint-sized students in the Back of the Yards neighborhood learn from their environment—despite their environment’s penchant for violence. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

Fifty years ago today, 200,000 Chicagoans boycotted segregationist policies by Chicago Public Schools. Watch a video clip from a new documentary that chronicles the protest and read an article.

Catholic school enrollment rises for the first time in years. The rise comes as Chicago Public Schools lose 3,000 students. Elizabeth Brackett has the story. Read an article.

Just months after closing 47 Chicago schools, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to build or expand other schools has drawn fresh outrage from teachers and parents. Phil Ponce talks with Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and Chicago Board of Education Vice President Jesse Ruiz about the issue.

It’s both a center for environmental studies and an environmentally friendly building. We go inside Loyola University’s new Institute of Environmental Sustainability. Read an article.

Northwestern University launches its first Massive Online Training Course, or MOOC. Professor Owen Youngman's course -- Understanding Media by Understanding Google -- kicks off on Sept. 16. He joins us to talk about the MOOC, and about this controversial trend in higher education.

What's in store for the closed Chicago Public Schools buildings? The chair of a new committee shares some details about what's ahead.

It's the first day of school for most Chicago Public Schools students. Elizabeth Brackett has more on the impact of nearly 50 school closings and the effectiveness of Safe Passage.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett joins us to grade the first day of school.

We take a closer look at the new-look Chicago Public Schools with Andrea Zopp, a Chicago Board of Education member who voted to shutter 49 schools, the former interim CPS CEO Terry Mazany, as well as Wendy Katten of Raise Your Hand, and Jitu Brown of Journey for Justice.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the challenges Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces trying to win back voters amid the Chicago Public Schools' budget crisis, massive school closings, and rampant gang violence. Watch the web extra video.

Chicago Public Schools students are headed back to school on Monday following the closing of nearly 50 schools and the introduction of new safe passage routes. Paris Schutz has the latest.

Whittier Elementary School parents protest the demolition of a contested field house. Chicago Public Schools says the Pilsen field house was unsafe. Elizabeth Brackett has the details.

Chicago Public Schools officials are calling for new charter schools despite massive neighborhood school closings and deep budget cuts. Elizabeth Brackett has the details. Read CPS's full proposal.

According to Chicago Public Schools, safe passage routes are ready for the first day of the school year, Aug. 26, but some parents disagree. Elizabeth Brackett has the details. View safe passage maps.