Acknowledging major reform reports that name reading, writing, speaking, and listening as the most essential skills in the work of any school, this brochure discusses important first steps for school boards pursuing excellence in the language arts. These concrete suggestions are grouped under five broad directives: (1) declare that the highly skilled use of English is a priority in the district, (2) find ways to reduce composition class size, (3) establish a climate and provide the means for professional development of English language arts teachers, (4) provide services and facilities that support the teaching of the English language arts, and (5) recognize achievements of students and teachers. (HTH)