State schools are for learning. 
State schools are for learning. 
In some lands, these schools are free. 
Some schools teach young kids. Others teach older kids. Some schools teach from age 4 to 18. This helps kids learn for a long time.
In the United States, most kids go to these schools.
It is a big way to help the world.
State schools are schools run by the government. 
In South Africa, these are called public schools. 

In Mexico and Brazil, public schools do not charge tuition. 

State schools are a very important part of life for many people. 
Each country has its own way of making these schools work. 

History shows us how these ideas began to grow.
Different places have different rules and numbers for their schools. 

Public schools connect to many things you might already know. 
A state school, also called a public or government school, is an educational institution funded by taxation. These schools are operated by a government, such as a state or local authority. They provide primary and secondary education to students, typically covering ages 4 to 18. 
The mechanism of state schooling relies on government funding and regulation. Governments collect money through taxes to pay for school operations. This money covers many costs, including teachers, buildings, and learning materials. In many places, the government also sets the curriculum, which is the specific plan of what students must learn.
Different regions categorize their schools in unique ways. In South Africa, the South African Schools Act of 1996 distinguishes between public and independent schools. State-owned schools include "section 21" schools, which have a governing body and budget autonomy. In Canada, education is a provincial responsibility, meaning rules change depending on the province. 
History shows how these systems were established and changed over time. In the United States, the Syms-Eaton Academy in Hampton, Virginia, was the first free public school in 1634. Later, the first tax-supported school was founded in Dedham, Massachusetts, by Reverend Ralph Wheelock.
Specific numbers show how large and important these systems are. In the United States, 88% of students attend public schools. Only 9% attend parochial schools, 1% attend private independent schools, and 2% are homeschooled. 
School structures often follow specific stages to help children grow. In the U.S., schools are often split into elementary, middle, and high schools. Some districts use a K–8 format, where students stay in one school from kindergarten through eighth grade. 
State schooling also extends to higher education through public universities. In the United States, these include community colleges and state universities. While they usually charge tuition, the fees are often much lower than private universities. 
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