The Pennsylvania School Improvement Program (PSIP) was created to assist local schools and school districts in the development of curriculum improvement strategies. The process involves the use of "linkers," curriculum specialists who work with teams from the local level to ascertain needs, then connect the local teams with the research and development agencies that can provide information and resources to help meet those needs. This document describes one middle school's experience using PSIP in an effort to improve its reading and language arts program. Special emphasis is placed on the effort to assess the program's needs. Appendixes present the questionnaires and other materials used in the needs assessment. Lack of definition in the language arts curriculum and lack of agreement and leadership among the language arts teachers caused frustration. After several months the teachers decided they needed a management program more than a curricular program, and they dropped out of the PSIP process. (Author/PGD)