CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has partnered with Chicago Public Media, home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, to introduce local journalism-based resources to the CPS Skyline English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum. Reaching thousands of third through fifth grade students, the initiative transforms 83 culturally relevant news stories from WBEZ and Sun-Times into grade level texts designed to build literacy, word study and fluency skills. The partnership strengthens intermediate-grade foundational skills instruction by incorporating real-world reporting into grade level texts designed to be practiced and performed with peers.
As part of the initiative, students from eight CPS high schools extended their reporting through a summer 2025 project. Students dove deeper into the subjects covered in journalism and created original photography to accompany the texts, producing new work inspired by professional reporting. On Feb. 19, students and teachers from Eric Solorio Academy High School, Lane Tech College Prep High School and Richards Career Academy visited Chicago Public Media’s headquarters at Navy Pier to present their final projects to staff. During the visit, students toured the organization’s renovated newsroom and studios and spoke directly with journalists, editors and audio producers about the reporting process, storytelling and careers in media.
“This partnership demonstrates how local journalism can serve as both a civic resource and a classroom tool,” said Dr. Lorelei Carver, CPS literacy specialist. “By bringing real reporting into the CPS Skyline ELA curriculum, students are not only strengthening literacy skills but they are also engaging critically with the issues affecting their communities.”
The collaboration also carries historic significance for WBEZ. When the station first went on air in 1943, it served as the official station of record for Chicago’s public schools. In fact, the “BEZ” in WBEZ stands for “Board of Education.” During the polio epidemic of the 1940s, WBEZ broadcast lessons to students learning from home and continued to provide educational programming for decades before becoming independent from the Board of Education in 1990.
“This moment reflects both our future and our roots,” said Kimbriell Kelly, editor in chief of Chicago Public Media. “WBEZ was founded to support public education in Chicago. Seeing our journalism now embedded in classrooms across the city is a powerful continuation of that mission.”
The initiative highlights the role of local nonprofit journalism in supporting literacy, civic understanding and community connection for the next generation of Chicagoans.
About Chicago Public:
Media Home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media is the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times serve more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, Chicago Public Media strives to be the essential and most trusted source Chicago turns to each day by reporting independently, amplifying trusted information and fostering civic connection so communities can better understand the people, events and ideas shaping our city and build stronger neighborhoods.
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