California's Pupil Proficiency Law requires each local school district to adopt standards of proficiency in the basic skills of reading comprehension, writing, and computation. Students are to be assessed in grades 4-11. Students not making sufficient progress towards meeting the district's standards are to be provided with remedial programs, and school personnel are required to hold conferences with parents to inform them of their child's weaknesses in basic skills. After June of 1980, no student may be granted a high school diploma unless he or she has met district proficiency standards and completed the course requirements set forth by the school district. This study was designed to examine the progress of a representative sample of 155 local school districts in implementing the Pupil Proficiency Law and attempts to point out problem areas which may require policy clarification, redirection of state technical assistance, or both. In addition, in-depth case studies were conducted in 15 districts. Major findings are organized into three areas: district tests, curriculum and instruction, and effects on students. The survey instrument used to collect proficiency assessment data from selected district superintendents is appended. (Author/RL)