THE VALIDITY OF THE WOLFF AND STEIN CONCLUSIONS (SIX MONTHS LATER. STUDY I. PS 000 281) IS CHALLENGED ON THE BASIS OF ONE MAJOR AND FOUR MINOR METHODOLOGICAL DEFICIENCIES. THE STUDY'S MAJOR CONCLUSION WAS THAT FORMER HEAD START CHILDREN HAVE GREATER LEARNING READINESS THAN THEIR CLASSMATES HAVE SIX MONTHS LATER BUT THAT NO EDUCATIONAL GAINS HAD BEEN MADE. THE MAJOR CRITICISM IS THAT, ALTHOUGH ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ADVANTAGES GREATLY FAVORED NON-HEAD START CHILDREN, WOLFF AND STEIN CONSIDERED THE ADVANTAGE TO BE "SLIGHT." THE ALTERNATIVE TO WOLFF'S CONCLUSION IS THAT CHILDREN FROM DEPRIVED HOMES ARE ABLE TO HOLD THEIR OWN WITH CLASSMATES FROM BETTER ADVANTAGED FAMILIES AS A RESULT OF HEAD START ENRICHMENT. (LG)