A number of criticisms have been made of currently available standardized pre-reading test materials in terms of their appropriateness for administration to urban children, their standardization, their content, and their required testing procedures. This new pre-reading skills battery has been designed as an urban oriented testing instrument to eliminate many of the existing test shortcomings and is ready for experimental edition publication. The battery can be group-administered by classroom teachers in the kindergarten or first grade prior to the start of formal reading instruction. It is intended to be used both as a screening device and as a diagnostic tool providing the teacher with information concerning a child's strengths and weaknesses in specific pre-reading skills areas. The single component sub-tests cover a range of pre-reading skills, allowing the battery to be used appropriately with children who will be taught reading by any one of a variety of instructional methods. (Author/TO)