Jobs may also leave too little time for study, for sleep, and for socializing which are also important parts of growing up. Recently, the term accountability has appeared, suggesting that professionals should be held accountable by their clients as well as by their colleagues, by measuring teacher performance by student evaluations or by class-learning gains as demonstrated on standardized tests. Schools are also being held accountable for the physical safety and study conditions of students. Historically, public school pupils have been assigned to the nearest school with room for them. Schools offering specialized curriculums or social characteristics would attract student with particular interests.
Most states permit people or organizations to form their own school.
In recent years commercial firms have entered the public education business such as Whittle Communications, Educational Alternative, Inc., Alternative Public Schools, Inc., etc. Charter schools can be effective in achieving student performance, but they have not proved to be more effective than traditional public schools. Home Schools Children in remote areas have been educated by their parents, traveling back to civilization for occasional testing. The laws of most states make provision for homeschooling. Where parents are reasonably educated themselves, and are conscientious in pursuing homeschooling, children can learn successfully.