The CIRCUS Assessment battery has been demonstrated to be very effective when used by teachers in conventional preschool programs, with typical students. This discussion investigates the feasibility of using CIRCUS with educationally handicapped children: (1) for the early identification of educable mentally retarded (EMR) or learning disabled (LD) children; and (2) to aid teachers in designing educational programs for these children. Various CIRCUS measures which might prove useful in identifying the expected performance of EMR and LD children are discussed, and the characteristics of CIRCUS which make it adaptable to instructional planning--including narrative sentence reports, competency ratings of children's performance, and a handbook of instructional activites--are described. A primary advantage in using CIRCUS for screening is its appropriateness for school or system-wide use. The major reason for using CIRCUS in instructional planning is that the necessary support materials have already been developed and are readily available. Although special educators who have worked with the CIRCUS battery are generally positive about its usefulness, more data are required for an adequate evaluation of its potential uses. (Author/MV)