VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>>> THOUSANDS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE BACK IN CLASS TODAY AFTER THEIR SUMMER VACATION.

CHICAGO TONIGHT JOANNA HERNANDEZ VISITED WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE TASKED WITH GETTING THEM THERE SAFELY.

JOANNA?

>> Reporter: BRANDIS, THEY ARE CALLED SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS AND YOU CAN'T MISS THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE WEARING THESE BRIGHT NEON BEST.

THEY ARE TRAN -- TRAINED TO -- MAKE SURE THEY ARE WALKING INTO THE SCHOOL BUILDING SAFETY.

>> GOOD MORNING.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

>> FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS.

>> Reporter: SHE'S BEEN A SAFE PASSAGE WORKER AT NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL IN BRONZEVILLE.

>> WHEN YOU CAN PLAY A PART IN SOMEONE'S LIFE TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR THEM, THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

>> Reporter: BURKE IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS SERVING AS THE EYES AND EARS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> BEFORE AND AFTER CARE.

WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE.

YOU KNOW, THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ANY CARS, THEY ARE NOT WANDERING UP THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> Reporter: AT WOODSON NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL, EIGHT SAFE PASSAGE EMPLOYEES LINE UP AROUND THE SCHOOL WITH BRIGHT SMILES AND OPEN ARMS.

A WELCOMING TOUCH THAT PARENT -- DILLARD ENJOYS.

>> BEING ABLE TO TRUST THAT THEY CAN LOOK AFTER THEM.

I HAVE TO DROP THEM OFF AND THE LIKE YOU GOT THEM AND THEY MAKE SURE HE GETS IN OKAY.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2009.

NOW SERVING 188 PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF PROTECTION IN SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING COMMUNITIES.

>> WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED A SHOOTING, BUT YOU CAN HEAR THEM A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY.

WE HAVE A CODE OF 911 THAT MEANS, HEY, IT'S A SHOOTING SOMEWHERE.

BE AWARE.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

OH!

>> Reporter: THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SAYS BUILDING COMMUNITY IS WHAT DRIVES HER PASSION FOR KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE.

>> IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME .

YOU BE OUT HERE AND THEN YOU SEE IN YOUR LIKE, MAN, I'M GLAD THEY ARE OUT HERE.

WHAT IF WE WAS IN HERE?

A LOT OF THINGS COULD TAKE PLACE.

>> GOOD MORNING!

POINT >> GOOD MORNING.

>> Reporter: WE KNOW THERE ARE NEARLY TWO 1200 EMPLOYEES