but in chicago that's not that heasy. school closure and violence top parents' concern. we have that coming up in just a moment. see you shortly. ♪ [♪ music ] >> welcome back to al jazeera. i'm dell walters. chicago public schools are under the microscope as more than 400,000 children are headed back to class. many of them are attending school under less than desirable circumstances. unfamiliar neighborhoods force them to walk through distances of violent and gang-ridden areas. it looks like reading, writing, and risk. what are chicago schools doing for kids who have to walk through these dangerous areas? >> reporter: that's right, dell. the district has established safety routes, as they call them, to help parents navigate through the new receiving schools. they have also employed more than 600 people who will serve on the safe passage routes as people to help them and guide them to the new schools. we saw a couple of them earlier today. they're dressed in the florescent yellow vest. we saw increased patrols by police officers and on foot. but with violence, some parent