The article tells about the History of the development of zemstvo system of local administration in Kursk province. Zemstvo was a form of local government instituted during the Great liberal reforms of XIX century. Zemstvo assemblies and boards were created at the provincial and district levels to meet the local needs, including the questions of education. The article tells about the activity of zemstvo system of local administration on the development of public education; the dynamic of growth of the number of public schools in Kursk province. This system of local government lasted until the Revolution of 1917.