This paper discusses a number of issues involving the relationship between private schools and state government. In particular, the author focuses in turn on 1) the role of private schools in American education, 2) the relationship that should exist among state governments, state education agencies, and private schools, 3) current discrepancies between the actual and ideal relationships among state governments, state education agencies, and private schools, and 4) steps that can be taken respectively by state governments, state education agencies, private schools, and the Education Commission of the States to improve relationships between private schools and state government. (JG)