During the Spring and Autumn Period, private schools gradually emerged. The reasons for the emergence of private schools are the spread and downward movement of academics and the emergence of a new "scholar" class.

The educational reform in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period can be roughly divided into four stages: the first stage, from the early Spring and Autumn Period to the middle stage. Countries began to change the educational system of the Western Zhou Dynasty and formulate their own educational policies. The second stage, from the mid-Spring and Autumn Period to the early Warring States Period. In order to compete for hegemony or maintain hegemony, vassal States reused and used talents, private schools rose and the status of "teachers" was established. The third stage is about the early Warring States period to the middle of the Warring States period. The separation and integration between vassal States became increasingly fierce, and private schools developed further, forming different schools. The rulers gradually exerted political influence on private schools, and official schools began to recover. The fourth stage, from mid-Warring States to late Warring States. The trend of historical development is to be unified, and scattered private schools have been unable to play their role. The position of official school has surpassed that of private school, and the teachers are concentrated in official school. Rulers supported their ruling power through official learning, and official learning expanded. Finally, the official education system of "teaching by law" and "taking officials as teachers" was realized.