In preparation for the mandatory administration of the New Jersey High School Proficiency Test (HSPT) that was to begin with ninth graders in 1986, a pilot program was conducted with ninth graders who had done poorly on the HSPT during its second, nonmandatory administration in 1985. Approximately 125 students were selected (25 in each of five school districts in the state) for a summer intervention and basic skill strengthening program, coupled with paid employment. The students in the six-week programs were trained in reading, mathematics, and writing, including essay and multiple-choice writing. After six weeks, the students who completed the program (about 80) were tested. The data indicate that the overall program made a positive difference for the students and should be continued. However, only reading and mathematics test scores were positive overall, while scores varied across programs and were actually negative in some parts for some programs. Therefore, the following recommendations were made for improving programs: (1) more time for schools to plan programs, (2) more attention to work placement of students, (3) more parental involvement, (4) more broad-based recruitment of teachers, (5) more intensive training of teachers, (6) closer monitoring of the programs, and (7) scoring of tests at the state level to facilitate quicker turnaround of the data. (KC)