and family background. Enrollment was limited to families expecting their first child between December 1981 and September 1982; none of the participants was to have had any previous childrearing experience. A statewide committee was named to supervise the project.

Participating families received the following services:

• Screenings to spot potential diseases or disabilities.

• Monthly personal visits by parent educators who provided guidance on a variety of subjects: for example, ways to identify infant hearing problems; tips for picking toys; instruction on the dos and don'ts of toilet training; information on how infants and toddlers classify objects and identify colors.

• Monthly meetings, convened by parent educators. These were forums for discussion of progress and problems, pride and disappointment. Typical comments and questions: "Aaron's just 18 months and already into the Terrible Twos." "Does Debby understand any words yet?"

An independent testing firm evaluated the pilot program after its third year. The results showed that children in the sample were significantly more advanced than a comparable group in language development, problem solving, and other intellectual abilities, and they showed more positive relationships with adults. The evaluation also revealed that families in the pilot program benefited, regardless of social and economic factors. Mallory and Burton White hailed the results. "This is the strongest stuff I've seen in 28 years in working in child development," White told the New York Times, which reported the findings.

Even before the evaluation, the backers of early childhood legislation were moving with new vigor. Education Commissioner Mallory named an advisory committee of influential Missourians. Headed by former teacher Carolyn Losos, this group began to break down resistance to the measure. That they were able to engage in outright lobbying made them valuable allies to state education officials, who are forbidden to lobby.