This paper provides an overview of the Waterford Early Reading Program (WERP), which is designed to shift teaching and learning away from remediation and failure to prevention, early achievement, and sustained growth for every student. WERP includes three levels of instruction: emergent, beginning, and fluent readers. It targets pre-K through 3rd-grade students and uses a balanced early-intervention and comprehensive literacy curriculum. The program's primary components include: daily individualized instruction (using highly interactive software); best teaching practices; ongoing assessment (online and off-line); ongoing professional development; school-to-home link; and parent involvement (via Family Literacy Nights). Evidence of effectiveness indicates that adequate time must be available for students to complete the lessons, and that the necessary computer equipment is adequate and well-maintained. Positive effects have been found overall for the program, especially for limited-English-proficient and low-performing students. At the end of 1998, 1,003 schools in 338 districts nationally were using the Waterford Early Reading Program. Sections of the paper discuss background, philosophy and goals, program components, evidence of effectiveness, professional development and support, implementation, costs, considerations, contact information, and policy issues and questions. (SR)