AN ASSESSMENT WAS MADE OF THE NEED FOR AND IMPLICATIONS OF ESTABLISHING A STATE BOARD FOR THE JUNIOR COLLEGES OF CALIFORNIA. WHILE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH THE QUESTION OF THE ADVISABILITY OF ESTABLISHING SUCH AN AGENCY, THE INVESTIGATORS ALSO DEALT WITH (1) THE COMPOSITION, DUTIES, POWERS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SUCH A BOARD, (2) STATUTORY AND FISCAL IMPLICATIONS, AND (3) MEANS FOR INSURING THAT SUCH A CHANGE WOULD NOT ENDANGER THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF JOINT LOCAL-STATE GOVERNANCE. EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED, AND AN OPINION QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO FACULTY MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND TRUSTEES OF JUNIOR COLLEGES IN CALIFORNIA. STUDIES WERE ALSO MADE OF JUNIOR-COLLEGE GOVERNANCE PATTERNS IN ILLINOIS, FLORIDA, ARIZONA, AND MICHIGAN. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT A STATE BOARD SHOULD BE CREATED AND THAT, WITH SUFFICIENTLY BROAD AND GENERAL POWERS, IT COULD EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE JUNIOR COLLEGE PROGRAMS. (GD)