Developed by a task force of child development personnel from colleges throughout California, these guidelines seek to establish a standard of excellence for new and existing child development centers and instructional programs in the state's community colleges. Introductory material provides information on the charge, role, members, and resource persons of the task force; the purpose of the guidelines; statements of philosophy and goals; an assessment of the need for community college child development centers, services and instructional programs; a look at community needs in child development; an examination of the child development centers and programs currently operating in California's community colleges; and a listing of 47 task force recommendations. The bulk of the report expands on and provides rationales for each of the recommendations, presenting guidelines for both colleges and the Chancellor's Office regarding: (1) comprehensive, coordinated child development instruction and services programs; (2) quality child development instruction programs; and (3) quality child development centers and services. Appendices include applicable laws, a history of child development programs in California, and a glossary. (LAL)