Drawing from a review of the literature and a study of 6,000 urban community college students, assesses whether students in college reading and writing courses achieve ability gains in these areas and whether their abilities improve as students advance through the curriculum. (DMM)

Examines the impact of new student populations on community colleges. Notes the proliferation of remedial programs, individualized instruction, and diagnostic testing and placement services in response to student learning problems and the expansion of noncredit offerings, experiential learning credit, and cooperative education programs responding…

Focuses on: (1) the findings of studies of the characteristics and prevalence of underprepared college students; (2) the status of the basic skills movement and of state-level basic skills testing programs in each state; and (3) responses community colleges must make to deal with underprepared students. (AYC)