As part of a series of field hearings across the nation on the reauthorization of the Higher Education of 1965, the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met in Pleasant Hill, California, to hear testimony specifically on access to education for children of lower and middle class families in California. Discussed were the rising cost of higher education, restricted access due to increased cost, efforts to provide financing and assist students, and innovative programs in the public and private sectors that are providing postsecondary educational opportunities. Three panels of witnesses appeared. The first panel included a high school counselor, a parent, a director of foster services, a social worker, a high school student and a student from the local community college. The second panel included Gene Ross of Contra Costa Community College; Janis Linfield, of California State University; William R. Frazer, for the University of California; Jose Quintanar for Community College Educators of New Californians; Patricia Hurley, College of Marin; and Samuel Kipp of the California Student Aid Commission. The third panel included Linda and Ken Rawlings and Merrill Callow on the innovative "Otis Spunkmeyer Student Motivational Program"; Brian Murphy of San Francisco State University; Mary Duffy and J. Anthony Kline of San Francisco Conservation Corps; and Johnicon George, of the California Conservation Corps. Included are the prepared statements of all the witnesses. (JB)