Education

With the largest education reporting team in Illinois, WBEZ Education covers the issues that matter to students, parents, educators, as well as the general public. Our coverage includes Chicago Public Schools, other city schools, youth culture, suburban schools, state education issues and higher education.

• • Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

  Change is coming to Chicago’s high-stakes, high-stress high school admissions process

  Chicago’s selective enrollment admissions process is changing. We’ll hear how it could impact kids.

  Oct. 20 read more

  Listen  23:43
• As the pandemic continues, a Little Village social worker is helping students embrace the return to school

  Oct. 18 read more

  Listen  4:26
• Teachers report a spike in acting out as students adjust to in-person class

  Schools are seeing vandalized bathrooms, shoving and shouting while teachers say they lack enough support to help students.

  Oct. 18 read more

  Listen  4:19
• “I felt like I won the lottery’: From pandemic job loss to a second chance at college

  Oct. 14 read more

  Listen  3:33
• • Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

  $7 million investment supports mental health resources for CPS students

  The grants aim to help students through programs that offer social and emotional support, trauma-informed learning environments and more.

  Oct. 13 read more

  Listen  22:01
• Big changes in how students are picked for CPS’ elite high schools start today

  CPS hopes to make selective schools more accessible, but some worry about low-income students being hurt by poor grades during the pandemic.

  Oct. 13 read more
• Test-optional college admissions got a major boost during the pandemic. Does it work?

  At DePaul University, the answer is a tentative “Yes,” along with caution when searching for a quick fix for equitable access to higher ed.

  Oct. 13 read more

  Listen  4:27
• Northwestern names UW-Madison chancellor as its next president

  Rebecca Blank is an economist who served as deputy commerce secretary during the Obama administration. She will be Northwestern University’s first female president.

  Oct. 12 read more
• What’s the future of standardized tests in Chicago Public Schools?

  CPS dropped the high-stakes tests long used in schools, raising questions about what comes next and how to measure progress during the pandemic.

  Updated Oct. 11 read more
• Chicago Public Schools’ new top boss says district’s COVID-19 response ‘falls squarely’ on him

  CPS CEO Pedro Martinez spoke to WBEZ about COVID-19 safety missteps, enrollment declines and negotiations with the teachers union.

  Oct. 8 read more