The global trend, especially in developed countries, is toward the provision of free public K-12 education, with no, or minimal, fees charged to students or their families. By contrast, almost all private schools, regardless of mission or affiliation, depend on pupil tuition and fees, variously known also as admission or school fees, to provide a significant source of their operating funds. The nature and extent of private school tuition and fees vary considerably, as does the variety of private K-12 schools. Tuition and fees, generally, are the highest at schools offering special-emphasis programs, somewhat lower at independent schools, and usually lowest in sectarian private schools. However, the unique nature of each school ensures that this is, at best, a general observation; exceptions are commonplace. And ...