A study examined the relationship between television viewing habits and reading achievement of students in grades 4, 8, and 11. Students, in addition to responding to the achievement and background exercises, answered three questions about their television viewing habits. Analysis of results showed that at all three grade levels, students who watched television six hours or more were much poorer readers than those who watched less. At grade 11, students who watched television two hours or less each day were better readers than those who watched three to five hours. This pattern follows at grades 4 and 8, although the differences were not as great. Results also indicated that the negative relationship between excessive television watching and reading performance is worst for white students and for students with well-educated parents. These results suggest that parents should modify their own television viewing behavior, monitor their children's television viewing, teach children to make intelligent choices, watch with their children, and advocate more responsible television programming. Educators should teach parents about the negative effects of television viewing, teach children how to evaluate what they see, incorporate excellent programs into instruction, and develop and suggest more positive after-school activities. (SRT)