A PROGRAM TO REDUCE DELINQUENCY IS PRESENTED. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE READING PERFORMANCE. THE PROGRAM IS THE RESULT OF A COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ABCD, A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION. THE PROGRAM WILL CONCENTRATE ON THREE AREAS OF THE CITY OF LOW SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL. TEST RESULTS WHICH ARE DESCRIBED INDICATE THAT READING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SCHOOLS OF THESE AREAS IS CONSISTENTLY BELOW THE CITY-WIDE MEDIAN, AND THAT THE PUPILS TEND TO FALL PROGRESSIVELY FARTHER BEHIND. IN THE PROGRAM, READING CONSULTANTS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO SCHOOLS IN THREE ELEMENTARY AND THREE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS. INCREASED TIME WILL BE DEVOTED TO READING INSTRUCTION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND TIME WILL BE SET ASIDE IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS FOR READING INSTRUCTION. WHERE POSSIBLE, STUDENTS WILL BE GROUPED ACCORDING TO ABILITY LEVEL, NOT GRADE PLACEMENT. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE TO INCREASE GENERAL READING VOCABULARY AND TO IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION. TO ACHIEVE THESE, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO IMPROVE SPECIFIC SKILLS, ATTITUDES, AND CLASSROOM CONDITIONS. EACH OF NINE FACTORS ARE CONSIDERED IN DETAIL AND THE MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES TO BE USED ARE DESCRIBED. AMONG THEM ARE WORD RECOGNITION AND VISUAL PERCEPTION SKILLS. COMPREHENSION, VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT, AND CRITICAL READING SKILLS. MOTIVATION WILL BE IMPROVED, AND INTEREST IN READING AND APPRECIATION OF GOOD LITERATURE DEVELOPED, AND A STIMULATING CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT PROVIDED.