DESPITE THE BELIEF OF SOME EDUCATORS, PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUING SEGREGATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN LARGE CITIES. DATA GATHERED BY A CATHOLIC SOURCE SHOW THAT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN RACIALLY CHANGING NEIGHBORHOODS "HOLD" THEIR WHITE STUDENTS AND IN FACT ARE BETTER INTEGRATED THAN ADJACENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MANY NEGROES AND PUERTO RICANS SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS FOR WHAT THEY THINK IS A BETTER EDUCATION, AND MANY WHITE STUDENTS TRAVEL INTO GHETTO AREAS TO ENROLL IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. BUT FOR THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PLAY A MORE DIRECT ROLE IN HELPING TO SOLVE URBAN EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS, THEY MUST DROP "CHAUVINISTIC" GOALS AND CONCENTRATE ON EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST CONSIDER PRIVATE SCHOOLS AS COOPERATIVE PARTNERS. PROPOSALS FOR SUCH COOPERATION HAVE BEEN IN THE FORM OF OFFERS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND STAFF TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO PROVIDE SPECIAL PROGRAMS "WITHOUT PROSELYTIZING," COOPERATION IN EDUCATIONAL PARKS, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE EXTENSION AND BROADENING OF FEDERALLY FUNDED PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. HOWEVER TO BRING ABOUT MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS MIGHT MAKE PRIVATE CONTRACTS WITH PARENTS TO PAY FOR EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN AT ACCREDITED SCHOOLS OF THEIR OWN CHOICE. IN THIS WAY THE CHILDREN'S ACHIEVEMENT WOULD INCREASE BECAUSE THE PROFIT FOR THE CONTRACTOR WOULD BE "'WHOLLY CONTINGENT UPON RESULTS'." THIS PAPER WAS PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA'S CITIES, SPONSORED BY THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS, WASHINGTON, D.C., NOVEMBER 16-18, 1967. (NH)