BECAUSE STUDIES SHOW THAT MOST JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LACK KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC LAW, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES, DADE COUNTY EDUCATORS DECIDED TO DEVELOP A LAW-BASED CURRICULUM FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. USING A 6-MONTH PLANNING GRANT UNDER TITLE IV OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT, LAW AND EDUCATION EXPERTS SET LEARNING OBJECTIVES. EVALUATION SPECIALISTS GENERATED TEST ITEMS; FROM THESE, NEEDS ASSESSMENT TESTS WERE DEVELOPED AND ADMINISTERED TO STUDENTS. ONLY 7 PERCENT OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 15 PERCENT OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS KNEW ANSWERS TO 66 PERCENT OR MORE OF THE ITEMS. TO REMEDY THIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, THE COUNTY DEVISED A LAW EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE LAW EDUCATION GOALS AND LEARNING (LEGAL) PROJECT. THE TWO APPROACHES USED WERE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND STAFF TRAINING. EXISTING LITERATURE WAS USED TO FORMULATE TEACHING STRATEGIES, FIELD STUDY EXPERIENCES, AND CLASSROOM SIMULATIONS. MATERIALS DEVELOPED INCLUDED INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDES, STUDENT AND TEACHER SOURCEBOOKS, EVALUATION FORMS, AND TESTS. STAFF DEVELOPMENT COVERED BOTH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL TRAINING. PROJECT EVALUATION INCLUDED TECHNICAL REVIEW, CLINICAL REVIEW, A PILOT EVALUATION, AND FIELD TESTING. A PERMANENT CITIZEN ADVISORY COUNCIL, A NEWSLETTER, AND PUBLIC INFORMATION EFFORTS WERE ADDITIONAL FEATURES. AFTER FIELD-TEST RESULTS CONFIRMED THE PROJECT'S VALIDITY, THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE PROGRAM'S USE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FOR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE LEGAL PROJECT FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SEE NCJ 62130, 62133, 62134, AND 62141-62148. (CFW)