「社會力量辦學」一詞是在中共此次發布「社會力量辦學條例」時，始成為大陸的制式用語。它是指一切「非官方」所興辦的學校或教育機構。「社會力量辦學」在中國大陸銷聲匿跡長達三十年之久。一九八二年復現萌芽之後，由於中共政策未見明朗，所以一直停留在萌芽狀況。一九九二年起，中共開始鼓勵「社會力量辦學」相關法規與政策陸續出籠，「非官方辦學」如雨後春筍般的興起，但卻引發了許多問題與辦學阻力。然而，「社會力量辦學」的成長足以彌補並影響大陸教育的整體發展，所以拓展此一典學途徑已是中共所必由之路，其利弊興革頗值深入探討。

The term “schoolssponsored by social resources" has been in formal use since the publication of Stipulations for the Schools Sponsored by Social Resources. Itrefers to all non-government-sponsored schools and educational institutions. As it is， non-government-sponsored schools were absent from mainland China for a period of nearly thirty years. In 1982， non-government-sponsored institutions began to reapperar in the mainland， but at that time， the Chinese Communistgovernment did not give a clear stance on its policy; thus， these schools remained small and undeveloped. Since 1992， the Chinese Communistgovernment has begun to encourage the development of schools sponsored by social resources， and related stipulations and regulations have been issued to hasten their spread. They have hence begun to flourish. and grow in number， although they have also begun to meet difficulties andhindrances in their operation. However， shcools sponsored by non-governmental resources are definitely an addition to the develpoment of non-governmental education as a whole. Therefore， the Chinese Communistgovernment's best option is to advocate and encourage the development of such schools in mainland China.