The need to improve literacy in inner-city schools is a phenomenon at least a quarter-century old. Miami University of Ohio began the Teens for Literacy program in 1989. The program sets up, with the cooperation of a school principal, a team of middle school and junior high school students to promote literacy in their schools or communities. Five inner-city schools in southwestern Ohio cities currently participate. Principals select a team of four or five students of different races and backgrounds. Each team writes a proposal explaining what they plan to do during the year. Teams come to the university for an hour every other month for a meeting. Projects have included a Big Brother/Big Sister reading program, a huge billboard, videos promoting literacy, reading to senior citizens, and working with other teachers. All teams engage in tutoring their peers, including the multi-handicapped. Brief reports from students demonstrate the reactions and insights of students in the program. The program costs between $6,000 and $7,000 dollars per year. Students are paid $5 a month for each month they work. Teacher-liaisons are paid $500, and each school receives about $500 to purchase materials. (Suggestions from parents, a list of publications for parents, and titles of two reports of additional interest are included.) (SR)