Compulsory education in the US American school system begins at age 6 and ends at age 18. There are 3 options for schooling in the United States: public, private, or homeschooling. A new type of public school, a charter school, requires admission tests and interviews, but tuition is free. Public schools require parents to pay for books, materials, and lunch, but tuition is still free. Private schools, often affiliated with religious institutions, charge an admission fee and require interviews. Parents who wish to homeschool their kids must usually obtain permission or notify the state.

American Idol is a US talent competition first broadcast in June 2002. The idea behind the series is to find new solo recording artists. Winners are chosen by the viewers via telephone, Internet, and text messaging. In the show there is a panel of well-known stars who act as judges of each contestant's performance. Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks were discovered in the show. In 2015, Fox announced that the fifteenth season would be the show's last as popularity has been declining for the last few years. There are many similar shows on TV all over the world so every year new stars are born.