I went to the National Press Club to see a PR stunt today a press conference about a newish education initiative. Apparently, Ed in '08, which has had little impact despite its 60 gazillion dollar budget, has been reincarnated as the Educational Equality Project (EEP). The "two" programs seem to have the same funders, a lot of the same players, and similar goals.

At today's event (the all-purpose inside-the-beltway term for someone trying to make news), a reporter asked NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein what EEP would, you know, do. Big and bold, he promised recommendations, position papers, radio and TV appearances and a Klein-Sharpton* tour.  Yes, that would be the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is EEP's other co-chair.

Randi Weingarten, head of the AFT's NYC affiliate (and thus someone who knows Sharpton and Klein), talked to USA Today's Greg Toppo about today's doings:

"Too often what happens is that when people get into this, they blame all the people who have been toiling in this field without the resources and without the public focus on it. It's like saying that those of us who have been frontierspeople in this fight for equity for the last 50 years are the ones who should be faulted, as opposed to saying, 'We'll join you ready for duty — what can we do to help?'"

Sure enough, no teachers were at the podium for today's event. There was a lot of talk about sorting teachers into different categories and making it easier to fire teachers. I didn't hear a single word about helping teachers do their jobs better or giving them the tools they need.

UPDATE: WaPo reporter Bill Turque, like me, seems to feel the event was unusual, writing that it "seemed more like the premise for a reality show than a news conference on education policy."

Random note: DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, a signatory of EEP's six principles, was asked about NCLB, and she responded by channeling EdSec Margaret Spellings. Rhee said the law needed some "tweaks." No, she did not mention Ivory soap.