Reviews literature and statistics on the increasing incidence of underprepared students entering postsecondary education, highlighting the community colleges' role in responding to students' needs. Puts forth reasons for providing remedial education related to the magnitude of the problem, access for educationally disadvantaged, adult students,…

Reviews the development of the transfer function in California community colleges, supplying data confirming that community colleges function not only as career, community, and compensatory education centers, but as institutions in which students desiring baccalaureate degrees matriculate, albeit differently from a generation ago. (DMM)

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)