This is Bob Doughty with the VOA Special English EducationReport.

Cyber Café computer centers are found in many cities around theworld. Now, a few American high schools are opening these centers.For example, a high school in the state of Maryland began operatinga Cyber Café last March. All students at Bethesda-Chevy Chase HighSchool in Bethesda can use the Cyber Café. But school officials sayit especially helps students who have no computer or cannot use theInternet at home.

The officials say thirteen percent of the students at the schoolare from poor families. Many students have arrived in the UnitedStates from other countries only recently. Students in the school'sprogram for learning English speak twenty-three other languages.

The idea for a Cyber Cafe atBethesda-Chevy Chase High School began three years ago. At thattime, officials were planning to restore the school building.Parents interested in technology proposed a Cyber Café.

They wanted this center even though schools in the area hadsuffered budget cuts. The community wanted to help. It wanted allstudents to have the best chances to learn.

Officials in the area supported the idea. So did an organizationcalled the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Educational Foundation.The foundation includes parents, teachers, former students, andbusiness, community and other leaders.

Over two years, the foundation collected money for a Cyber Caféand other new computers. It received more thanone-hundred-seventy-thousand dollars. The Café now has sixteencomputers, a printer and a device called a scanner. School officialAnn Hengerer (HEN-grr-er) says students use the Internet to completeresearch. They also write homework and required papers on thecomputers. In addition, they can send and receive electronic mail.That is especially helpful for the many students who have familymembers in other nations.

The Cyber Café also serves a social purpose. Visitors can stop byfor a drink of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. On Long Island, in NewYork, the Walter G. O'Connell Copiague (Co-PAYG) High School has sixcomputers in its Cyber Café. One student at the school says studentscan start their homework even before they leave school.

This VOA Special English Education report was written by JerilynWatson. This is Bob Doughty.