The goal of the Columbus Public Schools' instructional aide program is to provide an educational support program for underachieving pupils in kindergarten and first grade. The evaluation was based on objectives addressing gains in reading achievement and staff development for the aides. The evaluation design provided for the collection of data in four areas: pupil census, standardized achievement test, classroom teacher survey, and inservice evaluation. The kindergarten component was conducted in 40 schools with 49 aides serving 785 pupils and 6l teachers. The aides attended 14 half-day inservice training sessions. The first grade component was conducted in 43 schools with 103 aides serving 1,640 pupils and 206 teachers. The aides attended 16 half-day inservice training sessions. In both components, all of the objectives were achieved for the 1982-83 school year. (BW)