A lengthy and detailed description is given of a computer-based curriculum for initial reading, with emphasis on reading as decoding. The initial curriculum, prepared for a school in Cupertino, California, was closely linked to the three basal reading texts then being used in the district's primary classrooms and was programed as three separate series. A description of the hardware used and of the curriculum structure is given. A major evaluation has not yet been completed, but preliminary results showed gains by students who used the Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) over those who did not use it and also more gains for boys than for girls in the CAI program. References are included. (NH)