THE READING INSTRUCTION PROGRAM OF THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS SUMMARIZED. OBJECTIVES INCLUDE TEACHING WORD RECOGNITION SKILLS, DEVELOPING THE HABIT OF READING, AND DEVELOPING READING SPEED AND EFFICIENCY. IN ADDITION TO DEFINING THE OBJECTIVES AND BASIC DIMENSIONS OF THE ELEMENTARY READING PROGRAM, THIS REPORT ALSO DISCUSSES THE FOUR COMPONENT AND INTERRELATED STAGES OF THE PROGRAM IN ACTION AND THE PROCEDURES USED IN ORGANIZATION OF THESE STAGES. THE BEGINNING READING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BOYS AND GIRLS WITH AN EARLIER AND MORE SUCCESSFUL START IN READING. THE BASIC READING PROGRAM ENABLES CHILDREN TO ACQUIRE THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF EFFECTIVE READING THROUGH THE USE OF A TEXTBOOK. THE EXTENDED READING PROGRAM IS USED TO FIX THE HABIT OF READING, TO INCREASE LOVE OF READING, AND TO SHARPEN SKILLS LEARNED IN EARLIER STAGES. FINALLY, IN THE APPLIED READING PROGRAM, PUPILS ARE TAUGHT TO APPLY THEIR READING SKILLS TO THE STUDY OF CONTENT FIELDS.