(FORTUNE Magazine) – CORPORATE America's commitment to reading, writing, and arithmetic in 1991 was bigger, broader, and better than ever. Even more encouraging, CEOs of the leading companies believe their considerable investment in public education is finally paying off. Those are some of the results of FORTUNE's third annual - education poll of the FORTUNE Industrial 500 and Service 500 companies. While the number of corporations responding to the survey fell slightly to 301 this year (vs. 305 in 1990), everything else about the 1991 poll looks up. First, consider money: Companies are giving more of it. The percentage of businesses donating $1 million or more to education programs and school reform rose from 18% in 1990 to 24% this year; the percentage giving under $100,000 dropped from 41% to 29%. The median contribution was $344,000, vs. $173,000 last year. IBM and Exxon lead the 1991 dean's list in contributions; each gave $24 million. Ford Motor and General Electric follow, with $22 million and $17 million, respectively. Of course, commitment cannot be measured by money alone, and CEOs and their employees are also offering more of their time. Top management in 83% of the companies surveyed say they participate actively in educational reform, vs. 70% a year ago. In some cases it's the employees, not their bosses, who best illustrate a company's involvement. Eastman Kodak expects more than 3,000 employees in Rochester, New York, to be tutors or mentors in local schools this year. The most dramatic news out of the survey is that many more companies are earmarking money for young children. This reflects a growing consensus among educators that to make a difference in kids' lives, you have to reach them early. In 1991, 31% of companies contributed to preschool programs, vs. only 14% a year ago. Even more striking, the percentage of companies supporting elementary schools leaped from 27% to 64%; indeed, more companies now say they give money to primary schools than give to graduate or vocational schools.

Some of the best programs for young children don't try to reinvent the wheel, but to make it roll farther. Consider what 3M has done for the three R's with its $700,000 grant to Junior Achievement. JA has been the leading force in business-education partnerships since 1919, but it was only last year, using the 3M money, that it began to bring its practical message to elementary schools. Its new program aims to show minority children the connection between their schoolwork and their future role in the workplace. Junior Achievement launched the program in second grade in 28 cities last year; this fall it is entering first and third grades. Since American companies first responded to the crisis in public education nearly a decade ago, they have learned a few hard lessons. But more and more believe they are getting something for their money. In 1989 only 22% of companies felt their involvement had made a difference. Today, 56% do. One notable example: During the four years that James River Corp. of Virginia has sponsored a teenage pregnancy prevention program in a Richmond high school, the number of tenth graders becoming pregnant has dropped from ten to zero. In a spirit of cooperative learning, we offer brief descriptions of 132 other promising programs on the following pages.

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE CREDIT: NO CREDIT CAPTION: HAS CORPORATE INVOLVEMENT MADE ANY DIFFERENCE? WHERE CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS GO* HOW INVOLVED IS TOP MANAGEMENT

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE CREDIT: NO CREDIT CAPTION: WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING