The town of Cary, North Carolina -- located in Wake County -- recently enacted a plan to provide assistance to non-public schools in the county which teach children who live in the town, according to The News and Observer's December 16, 2000 Triangle section of the Raleigh-based newspaper.

         Under the plan, however, the town does not give monies, grants, or vouchers directly to the school or the parent but rather lends to such schools "secular, neutral and nonideological" services or items which they need -- books and computers, for example.  The schools may also seek authorization from the town to use its money to construct parks nearby.

         Other stipulations include:  The non-public school must enroll at least 30 students who live in Cary; and, the school must not discriminate against any student because of his/her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or language.

         This program allocates $200 for each Cary student.  It is believed to be the first of its kind in the State of North Carolina.
 

Source:  The News & Observer
               December 16, 2000