DISCUSSED IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY FREE SCHOOLS IN VIRGINIA. MANY OF THE CHILDREN HAD NOT ATTENDED SCHOOLS FOR 4 YEARS FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND, THEREFORE, THE TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WAS FELT TO BE INADEQUATE FOR THESE STUDENTS. THE FREE SCHOOLS INITIATED UNGRADED CLASSES, TEAM TEACHING, AN EXPANDED AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAM, AND INCREASED SCHOOL TIME. A CENTRAL AUDIOVISUAL CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED TO SERVE ALL THE UNITS OF THE FREE SCHOOLS. THE LANGUAGE MASTER, A DEVICE WHICH COMBINES WRITTEN AND AURAL PRESENTATIONS, WAS CONSIDERED TO BE VERY VALUABLE FOR TEACHING STANDARD ENGLISH TO THE MANY CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS SPEECH PROBLEMS. INSERVICE TRAINING IN THE USE OF AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA WAS PROVIDED. OTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE FREE SCHOOLS PROGRAM WERE FIELD TRIPS, A SUMMER SCHOOL, AND FILMS AND CULTURAL EVENTS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAM WAS CONSIDERED TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT WHEN THE FREE SCHOOLS CLOSED AFTER ONE YEAR, ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT WAS GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THE PROVISO THAT THE PROGRAM BE CONTINUED. THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN "AUDIOVISUAL INSTRUCTION," VOLUME 10, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1965. (NH)