New Orleans, LA - March 8, 2010 What if the key to school improvement was not mandating complicated new solutions; but rather dislodging bureaucratic barriers and rethinking education norms entirely? What if the system is the problem? What if we were free to start from scratch?

In his new book, Education Unbound: The Promise and Practice of Greenfield Schooling(ASCD Books, 2010), Rick Hess explores those questions and advocates an entrepreneurial approach to education reforman approach focused on supporting outstanding teaching and effective learning.

Hess, the Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, pinpoints reform efforts and new practices that, despite their successes, have failed to change education on a broad scale because of the intrinsic barriers within our current system.

Hess says that instead of introducing more reforms, we need to create an environmenta greenfieldthat allows creative problem solving to take root.

Todays districts and state school systems are so hobbled by rules, statutes, contracts, outmoded technology and stubborn cultures that they cannot effectively employ new tools and approaches, Hess says. The solution is not to force districts to imitate what has worked, but to free school services providers and new organizations to expand, start anew, and deliver new answers.

"Rick's message is particularly timely here in Louisiana because he understands that while expanding charters and choice is important, there is much more that needs to be done," said Pelican Institute president Kevin Kane. "Our state has emerged as a national leader in K-12 education reform and Rick Hess has some fascinating ideas on how we can build on this success."

What: Rick Hess on the Promise and Practice of Greenfield Schooling

When: March 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Xavier University Auditorium (Room 112 in the Administration Building, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, LA)

This event is free and open to the public.