Part of a special section on the elementary school curriculum. The implementation of whole language programs requires careful planning, staff involvement, and flexibility. Principals must recognize that whole language is a philosophy and not a specific set of practices that can be taught to teachers for immediate implementation. Principals and teachers must understand that whole language involves reading, writing, grading, and different approaches to teaching. The most successful implementations of whole language reading programs rely on the ability of individual teachers to introduce literature and on the response of their classes. The writers discuss planning for implementation, implementing the program, incorporating flexibility, and evaluating the program.