In 1985, in response to requests from rural poor people, the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), the largest nongovernmental organization in Bangladesh, initiated a primary education program with experimental schools in 22 villages. By late 1989, the program had expanded to 2,500 schools, and another 2,000 schools were expected to open by 1991. The program's objective at its inception was to develop a replicable primary education model which could provide, in a 3-year period, basic literacy and numeracy to the poorest rural children, who remained unreached by the formal school system. Experience with the program has proved that paraprofessional teachers who are carefully but quickly trained and are paid a small stipend can be effective, and that extensive parent and community involvement are important for success. The program has shown that young village women and men can become dedicated and responsible teachers if they are well-selected and receive good basic training and refresher training courses, effective and consistent supervision, and structured guidance about what children should learn and how they should learn it. The report describes the BRAC schools, pedagogical strategy, parent and community participation, organization and management, evaluation findings, and plans for the future. An appendix outlines the course content provided at BRAC's schools. (RH)