Communication Skills Through Authorship (CSTA) is an initial and early reading program designed to complement any basal reading plan and based on the premise that a child will learn best to read what is important to him personally. Begun in Idaho schools in 1969-70, the program encourages each student to tape record many impressions, stories, or experiences which he considers meaningful. Typed copies are returned to the child and become his personalized reader. He may choose to share his story with his teacher, his peers, or simply read it to himself. In 1971-72, district-wide implementation of the program began in grades one and two with a similar district serving as a control group. Experimental first graders significantly outscored the control students on the Stanford Achievement Test. No significant differences were found in achievement between second grade groups or in reading attitude and self-esteem for either group at both grade levels. Seventy-eight percent of the participating teachers expressed a strong desire to continue the program, and most indicated a decline in their preference for the basal approach and an increase in their preference for individualized and language experience approaches. A more complete program description and other findings are included in the document. (TO)