Front & Center

How has the American Dream changed?

Sep. 10, 2012
Census data shows us that income inequality is at astounding levels. Entire households are questioning whether they should still shoot for the stars or just make ends meet.

GED fees more than double in Illinois

Aug. 29, 2012
In Illinois, the GED testing fee will more than double, rising from $50 to $120. 

Literacy, adult education in North Lawndale

Aug. 27, 2012
Front & Center teamed up with Vocalo.org's Barber Shop Show to talk literacy and adult education in North Lawndale

GED may do more harm than good

Aug. 24, 2012
The GED is sometimes called the largest high school in the world. Dropouts think of it as a second chance to move up in the world. But research shows, it might not work. 

Teachers engage teens with realistic fiction, 'street literature'

Jun. 15, 2012
Front and Center visited classrooms around Chicagoland to hear what gets teens excited about reading.Amy Correa teaches sixth and seventh grade at Agassiz Elementary School in Chicago.

Falling behind before kindergarten

Jun. 15, 2012
A child from a low-income family hears an average of eight million fewer words per year than a child from a wealthier family.

ESL teacher focuses on bilingual pride

Jun. 14, 2012
English Language Learners make up about 15 percent of Chicago Public Schools’ students. Bilingual education programs exist for some, but since standardized tests are taken in English, schools are under pressure to teach students English as quickly as possible. Balancing the need to learn English with respecting a student’s native language and culture is a challenge for teachers.

Live call-in: From school to work, the low-literacy problem

Jun. 14, 2012
Thursday on the Afternoon Shift, host Steve Edwards will talk with experts about our continuing literacy problem. We’ll discuss why it happens and who’s trying to fix it.Our panel will include Betsy Rubin, an Adult & Family Literacy Specialist at Literacy Works in Chicago.

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