Professor Peter Burns participated in a forum to discuss the post-Katrina change to the New Orleans public education system hosted by The Louisiana Society for Civic Engagement.  Other distinguished guests included Brett Bonin, Orleans Parish School Board representative, Kevin Guitterrez, deputy superintendent of the Recovery School District, Laura Mogg, research manager for the Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education, and Carol Asher, President of the Board of Directors for ReNEW charter schools.

Professor Peter Burns said "the most important post-Katrina reform has been the increased attention to the schools and the importance of education in New Orleans".  Burns also said "New Orleans had the seeds of reform planted before Katrina and that the old place will dictate what the new place looks like.  Katrina did not create the new ideas for reform, it allowed the chance for reform."