Providing guidance to language arts teachers and those responsible for curriculum development, this handbook provides a model competency-based language arts program that provides direction for Ohio school districts in developing local competency-based educational programs. The model includes the following for grades 1 through 12: (1) a model curriculum for instruction in composition, listening and visual literacy, oral communication, and reading; (2) model performance objectives in composition, reading, listening, and oral communication; (3) recommended strategies for standardized, grade-level assessment suitable for measuring progress in meeting performance objectives in composition and reading for grades 1-10; and (4) a recommended program of intervention services by grade level for learners who do not make satisfactory progress toward achieving performance objectives in composition and reading. After an introduction, sections of the handbook discuss the philosophy, curriculum strands, curriculum matrix, and curriculum by grade levels and course of the model program. The handbook then presents detailed subject objectives and pupil performance objectives for each of the grades kindergarten through grade 12. The handbook next presents a district-wide grade-level assessment, a third-grade guarantee checklist, ninth- and twelfth-grade reading and writing proficiency test outcomes, a reading rubric, a writing rubric, a description of intervention services, portfolio assessment, guidelines for selecting reading materials, and suggestions for a reading list. A 79-item glossary and a list of 8 resources are attached. (RS)