WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Jean-Claude Brizard will show up at Chicago Public Schools' headquarters Tuesday, even though he's not officially the CEO yet.

It's pretty clear where Mayor Rahm Emanuel's focus is going to be. At certain points during his inauguration speech today it sounded like Emanuel was being sworn in as school board president rather than mayor.  It's all about education.

Part of a series on young people and financial literacyFor many high school and college seniors, graduation is a time of new beginnings and harsh realities. Their thoughts are turning to money — for tuition, rent, and credit card bills.

Part of a series on young people and financial literacyThe amount of money Americans owe on student loans recently exceeded the nation's credit card debt. That may lead many to ask: Is it smart to borrow a lot of money to go to college?

Updated at: 12:18 am on 5/13/11In a year when Wisconsin lawmakers have clamped down on union members' bargaining rights, Illinois legislators passed a measure that makes it harder for teachers unions to go on strike. But in Illinois, that happened with the unions' consent. 

A bill that stalled in the House, which would force Chicago Public Schools to plan ahead for school closures and capital expenditures, remains a work in progress, according to the bill's sponsor.

Education advocates helped shepherd an education reform bill through a House committee Wednesday, despite concerns of teachers unions that have pulled support in recent days.The Illinois Federation of Teachers joined the Chicago Teachers Union to oppose the bill, despite being at the negotiating tab