Bright and Early

School news is a little skimpy today — maybe everyone is fighting off the flu? But there’s still enough to make up your morning newsblitz:

• Sweetwater teachers rallied yesterday as their union went into talks with the school district, the Union-Tribune reports. I hear they reached a tentative agreement last night — check back soon for more information.
• We blog on how San Diego State University is responding to criticism of its recent decision to stop allowing local students in with lower grades and test scores than outside students.
• Education Week reports on a new batch of federal grants for innovation, and what it will take to get them. California doesn’t need to change any laws this time, but the program has a fundamental tension: States and school districts are supposed to use proven strategies, yet innovate at the same time.
• All children in public schools in Mississippi will now learn about the civil rights movement, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Amazingly, some schools weren’t teaching kids about it.
• The Washington Post zeroes in on a teacher who was laid off in D.C. despite her excellent evaluations. Sound familiar?
• A fascinating documentary about a Bronx school is coming to San Diego soon! I got a sneak preview because a friend of mine was in it. Check out this blog post about it from Alexander Russo.
• Seattle schools are moving back to a neighborhood-based system that will guarantee students spots in a school close to home, the Seattle Times reports. This could be interesting to watch: San Diego Unified trustees have expressed interest in something like this, although the details are still unclear.

— EMILY ALPERT