An overview of assessment practices in the 107 California community colleges (CCCs) in 71 community college districts is presented. Nearly 1.4 million students are now enrolled in CCCs, and 40,000 full- and part-time faculty work in CCCs. The primary mission of CCCs is the provision of rigorous, high-quality lower division instruction for students who wish to obtain associate degrees, transfer to a 4-year institution, or prepare for an occupation. Changing demographic trends in the state have resulted in a large proportion of Black and Hispanic students enrolling in CCCs. Matriculation, academic standards, and accountability are discussed, including the assessment component of matriculation and the establishment of course prerequisites. Problems involved in implementation of policies on matriculation and academic standards receive special attention, as do student access and measurement of levels of success in CCCs. An institutional research and evaluation component of matriculation provides for both local and statewide evaluation of the program. CCCs are using a variety of measures to show the skill gains of students, their retention and persistence rates, their goal achievement success, and their satisfaction with the educational process. The changing demography, the raising of academic standards, and the lack of pre-college preparation of many students are also considered. (TJH)