This comparative study of private education in the United States and Canada discusses each country's national background, historical development of education, the legal and constitutional position of the private sector, statistical information on schools and pupils, the variety of private schools, and the status of and future prospects for private schools. The section that focuses on the United States includes information on the relationships of the federal and state governments with private schools. The section on Canada includes information about the provinces and private schools. The study illustrates two main points. The first is the strength and universality of conviction in the western world about the importance of freedom of choice in education as a cornerstone in the fabric of pluralistic democracies and of an increased awareness that equality of opportunity and choice must involve some kind of public subsidy for private education. The second point is that, despite this common ground, the role and status of each private sector is the product of its particular environment. (DB)