An overview is presented of the mechanisms for financial support, institutional resources, and institutional accountability that are needed to improve the teaching and learning environment in the California community colleges. Introductory material outlines the educational reforms that have affected the colleges, underscores the need to reaffirm the primary mission of the community colleges, and puts forth a new set of questions concerning access, curricula, budgeting, and governance to replace the questions being posed by educational reformers. Part I addresses financial resources and needs for college staffing, curriculum, management information services, capital outlay, and deferred maintenance. Part II addresses the issue of accountability to the community colleges' mission through accreditation, planning, research, and evaluation. Part III offers a brief summary of recent reform legislation, highlighting bills concerned with the definitions of credit and noncredit college courses; a course classification system; a statewide grading policy; general education requirements; a definition of recreational, vocational, and personal development courses; and a statewide course repetition policy. This section also describes four innovative college-initiated programs; i.e., the Learning, Assessment, Retention Consortium; the preparation of definitions related to developmental education; articulation with high schools; and involvement in the Western States Network for Learning, Assessment, and Retention. Concluding comments urge the colleges and the California Legislature to join together to affirm the Community College Mission Statement and to provide a stable funding plan to support this mission. (AJL)