Kavitha Cardoza

Almost 700 children under age 12 were killed or injured in gun violence last year. An afterschool program works with young boys who live in some of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in D.C.

"We're in the business of changing lives," a principal says.

There are two million children of U.S. military servicemen and women. And by many accounts the military has long done a good job of helping with their education, especially in preschool.

The Pentagon runs a school district that spans the globe, with more than 82,000 students. By many measures it's very successful. The students perform well academically despite moving around a lot.

Nearly 2 million children have parents currently serving in the military, yet their everyday lives are mostly invisible to the rest of us. Member station WAMU explores the challenges they face.

Adults who can't read, write or speak English well affect all of society, in a variety of ways. They contribute less to the economy, cost communities more for government benefits and health services, and are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.

A typical adult education program can take years for those who dropped out of high school. But a model that started in Washington state shortens that time and uses a combination of team teaching, internships and extra support to boost student skills and get them into the workforce.

The wait to gain entry to adult English-language classes can be long. Once you're in, balancing class with family and job obligations can be a challenge. But many immigrants are determined. Ana Perez says she tries to never miss a class: "A day of studying is sacred for me."

Millions of adults struggle every day with basic tasks, like reading a bill or a bus schedule. Those with limited literacy find all kinds of ways to hide their rudimentary schooling. Many are unemployed. And those who have jobs are usually stuck at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder.

The number of overweight and obese children is rising. Many of those kids struggle to manage medical conditions at school, but they also face practical challenges, like frequent bathroom breaks and difficulty moving between classes. Obesity can also take a toll on kids' emotional health — and their test scores.