SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR CULTURALLY DIFFERENT AND DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE DISCUSSED. SPECIAL EMPHASIS IS GIVEN TO THE BASAL READING PROGRAM IN WHICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS, HIGH MOBILITY, AND LOW ASPIRATIONS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO READ AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVELS. IN THIS PROGRAM CHILDREN ARE GIVEN AUDITORY TRAINING IN HEARING VOWEL AND CONSONANT SOUNDS BEFORE LEARNING SIGHT WORDS FOR A READING VOCABULARY. SILENT AND ORAL READING SKILLS ARE CORRELATED, AND ALL ASPECTS OF COMPREHENSION ARE EMPHASIZED. SCORES ON THE GATES PRIMARY READING TEST SHOWED "SPECTACULAR" RESULTS. THE PROGRAM IS NOW USED IN ALL CITY SCHOOLS. THE READING TEST SCORES ARE PRESENTED IN TABLES. (AF)