This report of the functioning of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Title I, in New York City was prepared under contract with the Board of Education. The study is descriptive rather than evaluative and the major effort was focussed on collecting the data upon which further intensive analysis will be based. However, certain difficulties affecting the successful implementation of the program are noted: problems related to the legislative process, cooperative funding, planning, and administration, as well as those related to working with nonpublic schools and poverty agencies. The history of ESEA and its component titles is briefly reviewed. Also chronicled is the translation of the act into action. The Title I activities and the schools involved are described. Two sections of the document are devoted to fiscal matters--the budget and project allocations. A substantial part of this report consists of tables which summarize the voluminous data gathered in this study. (NH)