Designed as the first in a proposed set of three documents to be used to review elementary school programs in California, this guide describes the quality criteria used to judge program effectiveness for students. Criteria for a quality school program are provided in 13 areas: reading; written language; school effectiveness; special needs; oral language; mathematics; science; history-social science; visual and performing arts; learning environment; staff development; leadership; and planning, implementing, and evaluating the school program. The focus of each of the 13 criteria is described, and specific ways of meeting each criteria are listed. (HOD)