THE EARLY TRAINING PROJECT IS A FIELD RESEARCH STUDY WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE PROGRESSIVE RETARDATION OF THE CULTURALLY DEPRIVED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE STUDY WERE ALL NEGRO. FROM A GROUP OF 61 CULTURALLY DEPRIVED NEGRO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN, 3 GROUPS WERE CONSTITUTED BY RANDOMIZATION. THE FIRST OF THESE ATTENDED A 10-WEEK PRESCHOOL OVER A PERIOD OF 3 SUMMERS. IN ADDITON THIS GROUP HAD 3 YEARS OF WEEKLY CONTACTS IN THE HOME WITH A CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER. THE SECOND GROUP RECEIVED 2 SUMMERS OF SPECIAL EXPERIENCE PLUS 2 YEARS OF CONTACTS WITH AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER IN THE HOME. A THIRD GROUP BECAME THE LOCAL CONTROL GROUP. ANOTHER CONTROL GROUP WAS FROM A CITY 60 MILES DISTANT. THE GENERAL PROGRAM CENTERED AROUND ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION AND APTITUDE FOR ACHIEVEMENT. TEST RESULTS SHOWED THAT GAINS TENDED TO BE MAINTAINED AT A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL FOR 4 YEARS. IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN ADEQUATELY THE GAINS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM, IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT A PROGRAM PLANNED WITH THESE CHILDREN'S DEFICITS IN MIND COULD HAVE A LASTING EFFECT. (CO)