For at least a century and a half, universal schooling has been viewed as a primary obligation of government. In the United States, state and local governments, with federal support in recent years, have accommodated this responsibility by making substantial legal commitments and by providing funding and facilities. Although private schools existed prior to the historical establishment of public schools, today they account for only about 11% of enrollments at the elementary and secondary level (National Center for Educational Statistics [NCES], 2003b, Table 3). Thus, the provision of elementary and secondary schooling has long been accepted as a government function and responsibility.