California's progress towards the equitable participation of ethnic minorities and women in the admission and retention of postsecondary education students is reported. Part 1 provides a background and summary of the California student affirmative action program. Part 2 describes student body composition (ethnic and sexual) and part 3 considers the development of comparison bases for universities and colleges. Part 4 describes California Community Colleges' response to the affirmative action program, part 5 reviews a report submitted by California State Universities and Colleges, and part 6 describes the progress made toward the development of a comprehensive plan for student affirmative action by the University of California. Part 7 describes five obstacles to equal educational opportunity and presents recommendations for achieving this goal. Appended are the following documents: Assembly Concurrent Resolution 151; tables and charts; reports by California Community Colleges, California State Universities and Colleges, and the University of California in response to the Assembly Concurrent Resolution 151; and A Report to the President of the University of California from the Student Affirmative Action Task Groups. (BD)