US private education study report

US private education study report
Chinese private education US study tour

From September 15 to September 27, 2002, the "China Civil Service Education Mission to the United States" went to the United States for a 12-day study tour. During the United States, the delegation went to Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, New York, San Francisco and other cities. He met with the Non-Public Education Office of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Office of Private Education of the State Department of New York and California, and held discussions with non-government private education identification agencies such as the National Private Higher Education Identification Association and the Private China Small Recognition Committee; Stanford University, Northwestern Polytechnic University, and two private Chinese schools; visited Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Boston University, and Frank Sawyer School of Management. The focus of the study was on the US government's education for private owners. Administrative duties and management systems; supervision and service of private schools by non-government industry associations; internal management systems of private schools; funding sources and financial management of private schools.

By listening to the introduction, discussion and field trips, we have gained a deeper understanding of the private education in the United States.

I. Overview of American Private Education

basic situation

According to statistics in 2000, there are 126,542 schools of all types and types in the United States, including 22,763 private schools of various types and at all levels, accounting for 17.99% of the total number of schools at all levels; students at all levels and types of schools are 6809.6 The education population accounts for 27.6% of the country's total population. among them:

-- There are a total of 79,362 national small schools, with 62,739 public small schools and 16,623 private small countries.

-- There are a total of 11,112 small and consistent schools in China, with 8,292 public schools and 3,120 private schools.

-- A total of 1,755 two-year colleges, 1,092 public colleges, and 663 private colleges.

-- There are 4,064 ordinary colleges and universities, 1,707 public universities, 2,357 private universities, and China's small schools in China. The number of private schools accounts for about 1/4 of the total. In the past ten years, the proportion of the total number of students has remained at the same level. Between 0% and -11%; in higher education in the United States, there are more than half of private schools, but the number of students is about one-fifth of the total. Therefore, on the whole, the scale of public education in the United States is larger than that of private education. However, the quality of education in private schools is better than that in public schools. It has formed a pattern of public education, private education and public education. Private schools as American education. An integral part of the system enjoys the same legal status as public schools in the 50 states of the United States.

Characteristics of American private education

1. The sources of funding for running schools are relatively wide. There are social donations, alumni donations, heritage donations, fund scrolling, service sales, rental housing and land, government indirect subsidies, tuition and fees. In the case of private higher education institutions, some research-oriented private universities can apply for government research funding as well as public universities. Some private universities specialize in fundraising development. The government provides support for grants, scholarships or loans to students in private schools identified by the identification agencies.

2. Enjoy full autonomy in running a school. Flexible schooling, curriculum setting, hiring teachers, fees, etc. can be determined by the school itself. Schools can select students according to their different abilities and performances, family, income, and religion. A private high school registered by the government has the right to issue a diploma. Books, students can also not participate in the unified examination organized by the state government, and public high school students must participate in the unified examination organized by the state government.

3. The education program requires that students be treated equally. Students in private schools in the United States come from different classes, different nationalities or different countries, but the education program requires that students be treated equally. Pay attention to the development of students' personality, pay attention to students learn to behave, learn to survive, learn to work together, learn to know, do not engage in monotony, and implement small-scale teaching. For example, there are 177 students in private Chapel High School, but according to different situations and the wishes of the students, there are small classes with different students in each grade. We have seen 5 to 7 students in some classes, and they are satisfied with this small-scale and personalized teaching.

4. The organizers of private schools mostly donate money to run education, and regard education as a charity and social welfare undertaking without asking for a return. The accumulation of the school is used for the redevelopment of the school. The school is closed or closed down and the government is not responsible.

5. Private schools are divided into profit and non-profit. The management of for-profit private schools is stricter than that of non-profit private schools. There are strict standards and procedures for the approval of for-profit private schools. For-profit private schools are required to regularly update their licenses. One of the government's main tasks is to accept and handle consumer complaints and protect their interests. Some states have also established special funds to compensate students for tuition losses when the school is closed. Non-profit private schools have to set up a board of directors, while for-profit private schools do not need a board of directors. It is understood that the vast majority of private schools in the United States are non-profit schools. The licenses for such schools are issued by the state governments and can be applied for tax exemption from the federal government. Donations to schools can be used to offset the income tax payable. The school is also It is called a tax-free school; for-profit private schools are mostly training institutions and a small number of kindergartens, such schools must pay income tax and property taxes, etc., and are called tax schools.

Second, the US private education management, supervision and guidance and college setting program

The US Federal Government’s Office of Non-Public Education was established in 19 years. The Office of Non-Public Education currently has four staff members, and the Director of the Office is the chief adviser to the Ministry of Education on issues related to non-public school education. The Federal Ministry of Education is not responsible for the opening of any school or The examination and approval of changes, the establishment of disciplines and majors, the qualification of teachers, the examination of school conditions, the issuance of diplomas and degree certificates, etc., are all performed by the State Department of Education or the community education administration.

Federal Government Department of Education, Non-Public Education Office

1. Participate in educational legislation, implement government projects, organize activities

-- Provide advice and guidance to the country on issues affecting the development of private China.

-- Participate in federal government education legislation.

-- Organize the implementation of federal government-related educational programs.

-- Evaluate management measures affecting private schools, their teachers, and students.

-- Organize relevant activities of national and local private education management departments and groups.

2. Provide information consultation and other services

-- Organizing private Chinese small conferences on education issues. Publish related materials.

Main duties of the relevant departments of the State Department of Education

1. Main duties of the Non-Public School Service Office of the New York State Department of Education

-- Responsible for voluntary registration of non-public secondary schools across the state.

-- Manage and supervise private schools that do not grant degrees in the state. Handling and ensuring the qualifications of teachers in such schools and meeting the appropriate standards,

-- Investigate and deal with complaints from students in private schools,

2. The California Department of Education does not directly manage private small China according to the relevant laws of the state.

Functions, but private Chinese small must submit basic information about the school to the Department of Education each year. The State Consumer Affairs Bureau is responsible for the approval and management of private vocational schools and institutions of higher learning. From the understanding of the situation, the management duties of private education in most state government education departments can be summarized as: safeguarding rights, providing information, coordinating relationships, organizing exchanges, and resolving disputes.

Supervision and guidance of non-government identification agencies

Identification is an important measure for ensuring the quality of education in the United States. Identification agencies are generally non-governmental professional organizations. The examination and approval of the school is an administrative act, and whether the school participates in the identification is a voluntary behavior of the school. The core of recognition is the quality of schooling. Identification agencies generally identify both public and private schools. There are three types of identification agencies in the United States, one is regional, the other is national, and the third is professional.

Institutional recognition

1. Regional identification agencies. There are six regional identification agencies in the United States, namely the Central and North Central, Northwest, South, West, and New England Schools and Colleges. Regional identification agencies basically identify private schools in the region.

2. National identification agency. Such as the National Association of Law Schools, the National Association of Music Colleges, etc., what they do is professional identification.

3. Professional identification agency. Such as the National Architecture Identification Committee, the National Clinical Laboratory Scientific Identification Committee, etc., professional identification agencies also do professional identification.

Chinese primary school identification

In addition to the six regional identification agencies doing small identification in China, there are also small institutions that specifically identify private China. The National Private Schools Identification Committee is an organization that identifies private small identification agencies in China. The Federal Ministry of Education regularly publishes its recognized identification agencies. Only students identified by the identification agencies recognized by the Federal Ministry of Education can participate in federal government funding. Funding projects.

Related programs set by universities

In order to establish a higher education institution in the United States, the following programs are generally required:

1. The government department reviews the sponsor's school qualifications and registers them after passing the examination. The organizer can only publicize and enroll students after obtaining the school license and account number.

2. The relevant departments of the State Education Department shall, in accordance with the law, conduct follow-up of the initial conditions for running the school for five consecutive years. After the basic standards are met, the school shall issue a long-term school license.

3. The identification institution identifies whether the school has the qualification to issue academic qualifications or degree certificates. According to the US law and the operating mechanism of higher education institutions, schools generally choose the authoritative identification agency and submit the identification application after obtaining the school license, that is, according to the nature, level and location of the school. The identification organization organizes expert groups to carry out identification and inspection work according to the content and items of the identification application submitted by the school. Only the school that has been identified by the identification institution can issue the corresponding academic degree certificate.

Third, the source and management of private schools in the United States

Sources of funding. Most private schools in the United States have sufficient funds for running schools. The main sources of funding for private schools are tuition fees, social donations, inheritance donations, rental housing, and land lease. The government does not directly allocate funds to private schools for the benefits of fund principal operations. Private higher education institutions must obtain government funding support, mainly through the application of professors in schools or schools. Private Chinese primary schools must apply for government project funding by establishing a dependency relationship with public schools and using public schools.

Fund management and property rights. The management of private schools in the United States is carried out under the relatively sound accounting system of the whole society. The funds raised by private schools to build school buildings must be operated according to law. First, the application is submitted by the school and reviewed by the quasi-government department: the financial department carries out specific operations. For example, private colleges and universities can raise funds for the construction of school buildings; they can also issue bonds to the society through investment companies, but the financing methods must be operated in accordance with financial policies. Basically, a mechanism for mutual restraint between schools, enterprises and governments has been formed, and a set of relatively complete market operation institutions and rules have been established.

The financial management of private schools is handled by the accounting company. All funds and expenditures have detailed records, and a special auditing agency is responsible for irregular auditing. The assets invested by private schools in education are clear at the beginning of the school. If a school is established in California, it must apply to the State Government Consumer Affairs Administration and the Education Administration for registration. Non-profit private schools, all of their assets belong to the school; for-profit private schools must be taxed according to the relevant provisions of the tax, and their assets are owned by investors.

Fourth, thinking and borrowing

The concept of developing private education

1. Adhere to the public welfare of education. Most private schools in the United States are not-for-profit, and profit-making is only 4% of the total, and only a portion of the for-profit private schools are actually profitable. Therefore, schools generally believe that "profits are more painful than not making profits." Private universities such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, and Columbia are all strong. With the public welfare of running a school, the surplus after the operation of the fund's principal is used for the construction and development of the school.

2. Adhere to the diversity of the main body of private schools. The United States is an immigrant country. The establishment and development of its private schools is to meet the diverse needs of people of different races, religions and cultures, which has led to the development of educational diversity. The organizers of American private schools are mainly religious groups, charities, education groups, and enterprises. Unlike some countries in Asia, the overwhelming majority of American private schools do not use education as an investment method.

3. Explore and establish a school-running model for private schools. A large number of private schools in the United States have been established earlier than public schools, and have more obvious school-running characteristics. They have formed a fierce competition with public schools, especially the selective enrollment, small class teaching, and teaching of private schools. The special needs of some American families for female education. Schooling is not simply to pursue the rate of enrollment and penetration, but to explore and seek a unique school model, flexible operating mechanism, unique educational concepts and methods.

The government has a flexible management system and management approach to the private school system.

1. The government education administration department manages the giant school of private schools. The US Federal Ministry of Education has set up a non-public education office with the main duties of participating in legislation, implementing government projects, and organizing activities. The private education office of the State Department of Education does not have the same scope and responsibilities for private education, but it is also a giant management.

2. Relevant government departments shall perform their duties according to their duties, and they shall be managed by private schools according to law. There is no special private education law in the United States. The relevant government departments exercise administrative functions in private schools in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, involving courts, consumer affairs, finance, taxation, sanitation, and fire protection. Due to the sound laws and regulations in the United States, the relevant departments strictly enforce the law, and private schools have a strong sense of running schools according to law. Therefore, when there are major problems in private schools, it is not the coordination and intervention of the government education administration, but the nature of the problem. It is handled and resolved by the relevant functional departments of the government.

3. Non-government identification agencies supervise and guide private schools. The US government supports and relies on non-government identification agencies to implement supervision and guidance for private schools. The characteristics of these identification agencies are long established, wide identification range, strict identification process and high authority in China. Unidentified private schools are "difficult to enter." In addition, the United States has a special identification agency that specializes in identifying non-government identification agencies to ensure the authority and impartiality of identification.

4. Private schools are self-administered according to law. Under the supervision and supervision of a series of relevant laws and regulations and relatively complete rules and regulations of the state, private schools in the United States have a greater autonomy in running schools, forming a benign mechanism of self-sponsorship, self-management, self-restraint and self-responsibility. Private schools must also take the initiative to accept self-discipline guidance, supervision and evaluation of relevant identification agencies.

After the private universities in the United States have obtained permission from the government to run a school, they also need to obtain a review by the expert committee of the higher education identification agency. Once established, the school is independent in terms of people, finances, materials and teaching management. However, all the rules and regulations of the school must be made public. The content of the external propaganda must be guided by the guidelines and cannot be published at will; the propaganda and performance must be consistent, otherwise it will be regarded as fraud, prosecuted and even severely sentenced by the court.

Strictly regulated fund raising, operation and management have played a role in safeguarding the continuous development of private schools.

1. The government's policy support has promoted the construction of private school infrastructure. The funds needed for private schools to carry out infrastructure construction are firstly proposed by private schools. The government provides credit guarantees as appropriate. Later, schools can apply for low-interest loans to relevant foundations. Second, the government allows private schools to raise funds themselves and roll for development. However, the corresponding risks can be assumed according to law. Third, private schools can use financial means and, with the support of the government, entrust financial institutions to issue bonds to the society, thereby achieving low-risk, high-return benefits, but the benefits must be fully used. school.

2. Establish a foundation within a private school. Private schools in the United States generally have a foundation, and the state stipulates it. The winter gold cannot be used. The value-added part of the financial operation can be used for the development of the school, which not only ensures the development of the school, but also avoids the insolvency of the school.

3. The financial and taxation system is sound and standardized. The finances of private schools in the United States must enter the school's account, be entrusted to the accounting firm, and audited by the auditing firm. The inspection and evaluation of private schools, first and foremost, are financial management. Once any financial violations are discovered, the school legal person is accused and goes to court. A prudent and standardized financial system ensures the normal and healthy operation and development of private schools.

Mirroring

1. The government's management of private education must be different from the management of public education. The management of private schools should emphasize the independent management according to law and the management of social participation. To this end, the governments at all levels should actively support the intermediary organizations that serve the development of private education, provide policy consultation and legal services for private schools, and gradually achieve "industry self-discipline" in the aspects of evaluation and supervision, while giving the next-level government a larger Manage the licensing rights and develop private education according to local conditions. The government education department's management responsibilities for private schools are mainly: the establishment of school setting standards, the identification of school qualifications, the protection of school rights, and the provision of necessary services and communication information. The relevant departments of the government shall perform their duties according to their duties and perform their duties according to law. Private schools must be self-governed and responsible in accordance with the law.

2. Policy support for the funding of private schools. Private schools are allowed to self-raise funds, roll development, and risk at their own risk in accordance with the financial political segment and financial laws. Private schools with conditions can apply to the relevant departments for infrastructure construction. After reviewing and identifying the qualifications, the government can provide credit guarantees. The banks provide loans in accordance with the provisions of the financial policy, specifically supporting the infrastructure construction of private schools. Solve the problem of difficulties in infrastructure construction in the early days of private schools.