The Elementary School Curriculum Efficacy Program (ESCEP) of the Detroit (Michigan) Public Schools is intended to improve the academic performance of students through the development of positive attitudes toward learning. The ESCEP introduces students to a process of self-exploration that better enables them to understand their personal motivations, take moderate risks, envision a better future, set goals, handle conflict, and work cooperatively. The ESCEP curriculum is divided into 12 modules of instruction that are incorporated into the third grade language arts curriculum. The evaluation in 1991-92 compared the achievement of 252 randomly selected program participants (third-grade students) with that of 213 control students randomly selected from 10 non-participating schools. No significant differences were found for attendance, but grade point averages and California Achievement Test scores were significantly higher for the experimental group. Project staff rated the program favorably, and students in the experimental group had higher posttest scores (compared to their own pretests) on a school attitude measure. Nine recommendations are made based on study findings and observations. (SLD)