A study investigated the effectiveness of the Chapter 1 Reading Program, which provided assistance to 5,527 selected underachieving pupils in grades one through eight in the Columbus, Ohio public schools. The program featured small group instruction arranged according to pupil needs for the improvement of language and reading skills. Data included results of norm-referenced tests administered in a spring-to-spring cycle. Results indicated that: (1) of the 2,100 grade 2-8 pupils in an evaluation sample, 59.4% gained 3.0 or more NCE points on the reading comprehension score; (2) total reading scores for a sample of 2,082 pupils in grades 2-8 increased an average of 5.6 NCE points; (3) of 27 first-grade pupils in a treatment group, 15 pupils (55.6%) successfully completed reading level 8, appropriate for promotion to grade 2; (4) of 2,243 pupils, 93.8% were promoted to the next grade or passed their target reading courses; and (5) parents of 94.9% of 2,308 pupils participated in involvement activities. Findings suggest the program should be continued; reasons for the small sample size should be determined and ameliorated if possible; the strong support system should continue; planning should take place at the building level; and use of the term "discontinued" should be clarified. (Ten tables of data are included; two tables of data and evaluation instruments are attached.) (Author/RS)