The Hartford Public School District has set up and is maintaining three Intensive Reading Centers, each of which provides a 10-weeks reading program for first graders. The purpose of the program is to improve the reading achievement of disadvantaged children. Children in groups of 10 or 11 move from teacher to teacher at 50-minute intervals. They study in three areas per morning--decoding, basal reading or language development, and visual perception. The afternoon is spent at their home school in regular classes. An evaluation of the program showed that, in general, those children enrolled in the program made significant gains in reading. The program description, personnel, preservice and inservice training, facilities, busing, organization for instruction, activities, material and equipment, parent-community involvement, costs, selection process, and evaluation are included. (AI)