THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE HAVE INCREASED IN A PERIOD WHEN ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT EDUCATION HAS DECREASED. THE NUMBER OF CULTURALLY DEPRIVED CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS HAS INCREASED. FACTORS USED TO IDENTIFY CULTURAL DEPRIVATION INCLUDE POPULATION DENSITY OF THE AREA, DIVORCE RATE, VALUE AND CONDITION OF HOMES, STUDENT NONPROMOTION RATE, AND STUDENT GRADE LEVELS IN ARITHMETIC AND READING. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO ACCELERATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, TO IDENTIFY THE TALENTED, TO HEIGHTEN THEIR ASPIRATIONS, AND TO DEVELOP IN THEM THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR FULL AND MATURE CITIZENSHIP. THE PROGRAM PREPARES 4- AND 5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN FOR A REGULAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM BY REDUCING GAPS IN "CULTURAL EXPERIENCES." EACH CENTER IS STAFFED BY A SENIOR TEACHER AND AN ASSISTANT TEACHER. A TEACHER'S AIDE HELPS WITH CLERICAL AND NONTEACHING DUTIES. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS OF CENTRAL IMPORTANCE. ALTHOUGH THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON LANGUAGE SKILLS AND COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCES, IT WILL ALSO SEEK TO WIDEN THE CULTURAL HORIZONS OF THE CHILDREN. MAJOR EMPHASISI WILL BE PLACED ON EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES. IMAGINATIVE LITERATURE WILL BE READ TO THE CHILDREN, AND THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED IN PERSONAL HYGIENE. ALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WILL BE CALLED ON TO HELP WITH RESEARCH ON CULTURAL DEPRIVATION AND WITH SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS.