The author explains that readiness measures should collect data about pupil's entering behavior for instructional objectives or programs, that the criterion of relevance in entering behavior must be met, and that problems arise when there is no consensus on prerequisite entering behavior. (Author/CL)

A case study followed a child from birth to approximately age eight, recording his early successes with learning language and reading skills, and then discusses his academic decline after being labeled a low achiever and a candidate for remedial classes. The child had learned to construct words from magnetic letters at an early age, and by age…