The report describes an academic, compensatory education preschool program for educable mentally retarded children 3-5 years of age. Goals are to teach, through behavior modification techniques, language skills and behavior patterns necessary to succeed in school. Language teaching is based on an adaptation of the Bereiter-Englemann method, and the program makes extensive use of paraprofessionals. Discussed are efforts to foster healthy self-concepts, techniques of behavior modification and the schedule of tangible and social reinforcement, staffing and training procedures, subject matter taught, and the program of home visits to inform parents of the child's progress and encourage them in the use of positive reinforcement management techniques. Evaluation results reported show IQ gains of 14-38 points, a 17-month average gain in language over 7 1/2 months, improved behavior and self-concepts, longer attention spans and ability to delay gratification, and gains in academic skills. Appendixes present controlling techniques, the rationale for heavy emphasis on language teaching, examples of subject matter taught and sample lesson plans, forms for reporting on the home instruction program, descriptions of staff job responsibilities, and details of in-service paraprofessional training. (KW)