Private schools for the poor have flourished in places like Ghana, India, Kenya, and China – even when government officials deny the schools’ very existence. Devoted parents who want the best education for their children are building and supporting small, low-cost, and effective private schools. In The Beautiful Tree, Dr. James Tooley chronicles his journey through parts of the developing world, painting a vivid picture of the power of determined parents and an entrepreneurial environment for education. His research and stories show the ways that these communities are embracing the innovation and quality of the private sector to help their children escape the inadequacies of government-run schools.

Join us to hear Dr. James Tooley reflect on the findings in The Beautiful Tree and the state of low cost private education today. Dr. Tooley’s remarks will be followed by a screening of “Forces and Choices,” the third episode of the PBS documentary, School Inc., and a conversation with Dr. Neal McCluskey, Director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom.