A study evaluated the Title 1 Reading Program that served 5,298 underachieving pupils in grades 1 through 8 in the Columbus, Ohio, public schools. The program provided service to 76 public elementary schools, 24 public middle schools, and 14 nonpublic schools. Program teachers provided small group instruction to strengthen reading skills in grades 1-8. A major part of the evaluation effort was accomplished through the administration of the Metropolitan Achievement Tests. The Metropolitan Achievement Tests, Sixth Edition (MAT6) were administered to grades 3-8 in the spring of 1996. The Metropolitan Achievement Tests, Seventh Edition (MAT7) were administered to grades 1-8 in the spring of 1996. Results indicated that: (1) of the treatment group of 3,783 pupils, 3,534 (93.4%) displayed over time each of 3 strategic processing behaviors (constructing meaning, monitoring reading, and integrating sources of information; (2) 3,536 (94.3%) of 3,751 pupils in a treatment group read either 5 or more books at level 8 or above (grade 1) or 10 or more books (grade 2); (3) for aggregate achievement scores in Comprehension in an evaluation sample of 2,839 pupils, the average change score across grades was 6.5 NCE (normal curve equivalent) points; and (4) 4,877 different parents or guardians were involved in one or more parent involvement activities. The following recommendations were made to strengthen the 1996-97 Title I Reading Room: (1) continue the program; (2) ways to improve attendance need to be studies; (3) Federal and State Program Evaluation should monitor record keeping and data collection; and (5) administration and staff should work with program teachers on joint planning. (Contains 16 figures of data.) (RS)