THE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OF 3,635 STUDENTS FROM EDUCATIONALLY DEPRIVED SCHOOLS WAS COMPARED WITH STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOLS WHERE HIGHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVELS PREVAILED. RESULTS REVEALED SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES WITH REGARD TO (1) LANGUAGE ARTS, (2) READING ACHIEVEMENT, (3) AREAS OTHER THAN LANGUAGE ARTS AND READING (ARITHMETIC AND PROBLEM SOLVING, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND SCIENCE), AND (4) HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOL GROUPS WERE CLEARLY IN FAVOR OF THE MORE SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGED, AND THAT HEALTH NEEDS SEVERELY IMPEDED EFFORTS TO ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE DISADVANTAGED. PROVISION WAS MADE FOR SPECIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF MEDICAL CARE, FOOD, AND CLOTHING. WELL-EQUIPPED DIAGNOSTIC AND CORRECTIVE CENTERS, STAFFED BY SPECIALISTS, WERE ESTABLISHED FOR THE AID OF THOSE STUDENTS WHOSE DIAGNOSTIC RECORDS INDICATED A NEED FOR THIS SERVICE. TEACHERS WERE PROVIDED FOR SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT CLASSES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PREDICTIVE DROPOUTS, WITH HOME CONTACTS BEING MADE BY SOCIAL COUNSELORS. A TUITION-FREE SUMMER PROGRAM, INCLUDING REMEDIAL COURSES AND A SPEECH THERAPY CLINIC, WAS PROVIDED. THE EVALUATION PHASE OF THE PROGRAM IS NOW PLANNED. (DA)