A study investigated the effectiveness of the Chapter 1 Reading Program, which provided assistance to 5,956 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 1,896 grade 2-8 pupils in an evaluation sample, 58.6% gained 3.0 or more NCE points on the reading comprehension score; (2) total reading scores for a sample of 1,871 pupils in grades 2-8 increased an average of 4.9 NCE points; (3) of 1,909 first-grade and second-grade pupils, 1,557 (81.6%) read five books at or above text reading level 8 appropriate for promotion to the next grade; (4) of 1,896 pupils, 92.6% were promoted to the next grade or passed their target reading courses; and (5) 5,779 parents of pupils served were involved in one or more parent involvement activities, and that 77.4% of pupils served had one or more parents who were involved. 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; and planning should take place at the building level. (Contains 9 references and 11 tables of data are included; 2 tables of data and evaluation instruments are attached.) (RS)