The New York Daily News exposes some eyebrow-raising financial contributions to the Rev. Al Sharpton’s organization, the National Action Network, immediately after he announced he was forming the Education Equality Project with New York City schools’ chancellor Joel I. Klein. A racetrack and Joe Williams of the Democrats for Education Reform are wrapped up in this complicated web, according to the story.

The Flypaper Folks talk about Margaret Spellings’ new post at Fordham and the Ed Trust’s new push for highly qualified bus drivers as part of their April Fool’s Day edition of the Gadfly. Click through to the video for more fun and games.

The Quick and the Ed highlights Arne Duncan’s displeasure with New York’s decision to set aside funding increases for traditional K-12 schools while cutting charter schools.

Alexander Russo takes note of who didn’t make the list of finalists for the Broad Prize for urban districts.

And speaking of Eli Broad, listen to him talk to the Washington Post about leadership, D.C. schools’ chief Michelle Rhee, and how Duncan is the closest an education secretary has ever been to the president: