Basic principles and analytical methods of economics are used to conduct a preliminary study of state policies for private education in China. It is evident that if public policy is to exert a positive effect on private education, the government must formulate policies at a higher level for private education and give equal attention to choice, efficiency, and equity of education. The objective of education is to enable those receiving an education to acquire all-around development, and publicly operated and private education are merely different means of realizing this objective. Hence, the requirements and the interests of those being educated should be given first consideration when formulating policies for private education. In addition to using governance as a policy tool, the government should emphasize the use of such policy tools as finance, public infrastructure, and construction to conduct effective regulation and intervention in the private education system. (Contains 14 notes.)