This book, based on a survey of parents, teachers, and principals affiliated with 54 private schools in eight cities, examines the mandate for and effects of private education for low income, predominantly minority, urban populations. The study was directed toward exploring first why low income, minority parents choose private schools for their children and, second, the problems that characterize these schools. The book's first chapter reviews the racial and ethnic, religious, socioeconomic and educational background, and the family structure of the clientele of inner city private schools. Chapter two reviews the religious and educational values that lead parents to select such schools. The next three chapters focus on the issue of egalitarianism in inner-city private school administration and governance, teacher characteristics and attitudes, and school admissions and expulsion policies. Chapter six reviews students' social and academic behavior, based on survey data. The final two chapters discuss school effectiveness and consider the survivability of inner-city private education from a public policy perspective. Appended to the book are details of the study's methodology. The book also includes 66 tables of statistical data. (GC)