This paper explicates private corporation's role in developing and executing educational partnerships to serve elementary and secondary schools. The impact of these partnerships on distance learning is discussed, as well as the cooperative role of private enterprise in serving the public authority by addressing the educational needs at the local, regional, state, and national levels. Two models for public/private partnerships are proposed: the public/private cooperative and the private corporation as a stand-alone provider. The critical needs, as well as the barriers for implementing the models, are outlined. As a backdrop to this discussion, a historical perspective is established by reviewing the role of private entrepreneurship in technological innovation of distance learning technology (telephone, broadcast and cable television, microcomputer, and satellite) and the influence of legislative and regulatory mandates in the educational application of these technologies. The paper concludes by hypothesizing the impact and challenges to the educational partnership on distance learning activities in the future. (25 references) (Author/DB)