What is meant by "the private school is a state actor"?

A state
actor is a group, individual, or organization that acts on behalf of the state/government. This
means that it represents the interests of the government in its actions and is often subsidized
or supported by government funds. Typically, the term is applied only to individuals employed by
the government, but it has been extended to include other groups or organizations.

If a private school is a state actor, that means that the private school is acting on
behalf of the government. A private school is simply a school that is not open to the public and
has its own income and acceptance criteria. In this situation, a private school would likely be
a state actor if it received funding from the government in some way. Typically, schools receive
grants and subsidies, so it is possible that a school with a sizable government grant would be
considered a state actor, and its actions and decisions would represent the
government.

State actors are also held to a higher standard, just as the
government is, because their actions are scrutinized more heavily. A state actor is restricted
by the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments and cannot violate any civil liberties with its
actions.