Sharpton To Speak on Improving America's Schools Today

The Reverend Al Sharpton will join a national movement to make the issue of improving America's schools a greater priority in the presidential election today, in an announcement at the National Press Club.

In what could be seen as an endorsement of their turnaround efforts, Rev. Sharpton is appearing with several leaders of public school districts that have urged dramatic change in public education, including the New York City Schools Chancellor, Joel Klein; the chancellor of the D.C. schools, Michelle Rhee, and the Baltimore City Public Schools C.E.O., Andres Alonso.

Also at the announcement will be the group Ed in 08, which has poured millions of dollars behind the cause of giving education a bigger role in the presidential election debate.

In the past, Mr. Klein has framed his commitment to improving public education as a civil rights issue, and Rev. Sharpton will likely do the same today.

Other black leaders in the city, including the local NAACP, have criticized Mr. Klein's stewardship of the schools.

After Mr. Bloomberg likened his education policies to the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, state Senator Bill Perkins of Harlem balked.

"Frankly, folks are fleeing the public school system," he told The New York Sun.