In September 1977 a reading and language arts test, based upon 40 objectives slated for student accomplishment by the end of grade four, was administered to all Delaware fourth graders. This test, the Objective-Referenced Measure in Communications, was intended to provide entry level diagnostic information to classroom teachers and to inform administrators about the status of schools and districts on curriculum objectives. To justify, describe, and explain the test, separate manuals for curriculum analysis and instructional planning were developed and provided. Leadership services and products were offered in support of program improvement to encourage use of test results. Services included technical field assistance, information retrieval, state facilitators, and mini-grant programs. Products included a Textbook to Objective Correlation, Communications Activity Packs, and an Item Bank. The 160 items in the test were grouped into eight categories: study skills, literature, writing, listening, word recognition, reading-literal comprehension, reading-interpretive comprehension, and reading-critical comprehension. Percentage of students answering items correctly within each category ranged from 78% for reading-interpretive comprehensive, to 64% for reading-critical comprehesion. Results were analyzed by classroom, objective, category, total test, and item response by objective. The Delaware Educational Accountability System provided a framework for this testing program. (Author/CP)