A FIRST-YEAR EVALUATION WAS MADE OF SEVEN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SET UP TO PROVIDE REMEDIAL INSTRUCTION IN BASIC EDUCATION AND IN METHODS OF SEEKING AND APPLYING FOR EMPLOYMENT, OFFERED UNDER THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT. PARTICIPANTS RANGED WIDELY IN AGE, (21-76) WITH A GREAT NUMBER IN THE ADVANCED AGE GROUP. THEIR EDUCATIONAL LEVEL WAS TYPICALLY IN THE UPPER ELEMENTARY YEARS. BECAUSE OF IRREGULARITY IN ATTENDANCE, TESTING WAS ADMINISTERED TO ONLY 37 OF THE PARTICIPANTS. THE GATES READING TEST WAS USED FOR WORD RECOGNITION AND PARAGRAPH READING, THE CALIFORNIA ARITHMETIC TEST FOR REASONING AND FUNDAMENTALS, AND THE OAKLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRIMARY WORD LIST FOR SPELLING. MODEST BUT SIGNIFICANT GAINS WERE MADE IN READING. GAINS IN ARITHMETIC WERE ABOUT TWICE THAT IN READING AND REFLECTED MONTH-FOR-MONTH GAINS ON THE AVERAGE. A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT GAIN WAS NOTED IN SPELLING. TEN OF THE 37 PARTICIPANTS OBTAINED PERFECT SCORES ON THE SPELLING TEST, A FACT WHICH RAISED THE QUESTION OF THE SUITABILITY OF THIS TEST FOR SUCH POPULATIONS. STAFF NOTICED POSITIVE CHANGES IN STUDENT ATTITUDES AND SELF-PERCEPTIONS AND STUDENT REACTIONS WERE FAVORABLE. (THE APPENDIX INCLUDES EVALUATIONS OF THE CENTERS BY TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, AND PARTICIPANTS.) (SM)