• Public schools are required to operate for a minimum of 180 days in order to satisfy the state's compulsory attendance law. Private schools are permitted to maintain compliance with only 170 days. In addition, public school teachers, by law, must be employed for at least 16 days beyond the school term. No similar requirement exists for private schools.

• Public schools are prohibited by the State Constitution from charging state residents any form of tuition or other fees for materials, supplies, textbooks or transportation. Most private schools traditionally impose fees, in addition to tuition, for one or more of these items.

• Public school teachers are required to hold college degrees and to be licensed by the state. Private schools have no personnel requirements other than their own.

• Public schools must accept any resident student who applies for admission, regardless of sex, race, religious affiliation, economic status or physical or mental handicap. Private schools can be selective in choosing their students.

• The right of a public school student to a free education is guaranteed by the State Constitution and the student may not be disciplined in a manner that restricts or removes that right without being afforded due process of law. Private schools are not subject to these requirements and may exclude any student whose behavior is not conducive to the learning process.

• Public school students must meet state graduation requirements that include a minimum of 24 credits (15 of which must be in specified courses), a 2.0 high school grade point average and a passing score on a state-prescribed test. Graduation requirements for private schools are left to the determination of each school and are not subject to any state requirements.

• In addition to the state requirements, Broward County public school students must have at least one semester of computer education in grades 6 through 12 and earn 25 credits for graduation. Also, to be promoted from grade 9 to grade 10, which requires 5 credits, students must achieve a passing grade in English I, or its equivalent for ESE or ESOL, and a passing grade in a Level II (or above) mathematics course.

• The content and performance standards for each course offered in public high schools are prescribed by the state and each student must master such standards prior to receiving credit. Each private school establishes its own curriculum and its own standards without any required minimums.

• Florida public school systems are required to collectively bargain with employees on all matters affecting their terms and conditions of employment. Teachers in public schools, after completing a probationary period, are granted tenure by law and may not be dismissed without first going through a year-long rehabilitation period and then only after a public hearing in which charges of incompetence or misconduct must be proven. Private schools are free to deal with personnel matters in a discretionary manner, unencumbered by requirements imposed on public schools.

• Public schools are required by Florida law to provide a federally qualified lunch program in all schools and, in addition, a breakfast program in all elementary schools. Free and reduced-price meals must be provided to all qualified low-income students. Private schools are permitted, but not required, to participate in the federal lunch and breakfast program.

Since there are no uniform standards applying to private schools, comparisons with public schools, or in many instances with other private schools, often are not based on common criteria and, therefore, can be both inaccurate and/or misleading. Any such comparison, in order to have any degree of validity, must take into consideration all fees and tuition charges and the standards each private school has elected to impose on itself such as length of term, personnel requirements, curriculum, and student performance standards.