In the Loop

Governor Rauner delivers the budget address although there is no budget. We take a look at what lawmakers expect to hear during the speech. At Chicago’s only ‘Forest Playschool,’ nature is the classroom. We talk with Teresa Weed, the director of the program at the North Park Village Nature Center. Reclaimed Soul’s Ayana Contreras brings us some of her favorite new acquisitions, and the stories behind them. Plus, L.A. Reid stops by to talk about his new book, and he shares some memories of coming up in the music business.

Governor Rauner delivers the budget address, although there is no budget. We take a look at what lawmakers expect to hear during the speech.

We explore why our youngest students may not be getting the best preschool experience- and what needs to change in the classroom and at home. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is updating something called the Wacker Manual and making it into a graphic novel. For the past 15 years, high school students in Illinois have taken the ACT, just like many other students in the Midwest. But now, there’s a new college entrance exam in town: The SAT. We examine the differences and how this move will affect students. Plus, we look at the popularity of an elementary school course on Mexican Mariachi music.

In her new book "The Importance of Being Little", early childhood education expert Erika Christakis argues that today’s preschoolers are not getting what they need from parents, teachers and administrators. Instead of more rote instruction and standards-based evaluation, kids between the ages of three and six need more play, more social interactions, and more creative open-ended projects. Christakis joins us to explain.

In 1911, Chicago Public Schools started teaching Chicago urban planning and civics using something called the Wacker Manual - basically a version of the Burnham Plan for middle schoolers. It was taught in CPS for two decades but was eventually lost to history. Gabrielle Lyon of the Chicago Architecture Foundation describes the revival of the Wacker Manual in a form today’s middle school students can really connect with: a graphic novel.

After the state’s contract with the ACT last June, the SAT exam started courting Illinois to be the entrance exam for students here. Chicago Tribune’s Diane Rado explains differences between the two tests and how this move will affect students.

Two years ago, Chicago Public Schools started an elective mariachi program at seven elementary schools. It’s since become hugely popular, especially among Mexican American students and their families. Cesar Maldonado, President of the Mariachi Heritage Foundation, which funds the program, discusses the new All City Mariachi Ensemble. The program launches this year.

We examine some of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s key decisions and his impact on the court. Plus, what happens next for the eight-member court and for the nominating process. William Baude, Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School walks us through what we can expect coming forward. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away at the age of 79. Morning Shift talks with Northwestern Law Professor Steven Calabresi, who clerked for Scalia soon after President Reagan appointed him to the court. CPS high school principal Anna Pavichevich explains what it’s like to lead a school with 1120 students and more than 100 staff members.

We examine some of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s key decisions and his impact on the court. Plus, what happens next for the eight-member court and for the nominating process. William Baude, Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School walks us through what we can expect coming forward.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away at the age of 79. We talk with Northwestern Law Professor Steven Calabresi, who clerked for Scalia soon after President Reagan appointed him to the court. Guests: Steven Calabresi, Professor of Law at Northwestern University, law clerk to Justice Scalia 1987-1988.