The first section of a four-part technical report of Florida's statewide program for assessing reading-related skills in grades 2 and 4 provides an introduction to the program, a description of procedures used, and recommendations regarding program operation. Program background, design, and responsibility for assessment activities are discussed in the introduction. The procedures discussed are: selection of statewide objectives, pupils and pupil characteristics, selection of random sample, assessment instruments, testing conditions, distribution of materials, completion of local testing, and test scoring. The recommendations on program operation involve special target groups, representativeness of sampling, test materials, instructions and general information, and packaging and distribution of test materials. Florida's Educational Accountability Act of 1971, the legislative impetus for this assessment program, is provided in an appendix. (For related documents see TM 002 724-726.) (KM)