The Florida Board of Community Colleges conducted a survey of the current state of preparatory programs (i.e., math, reading, English, and English as a Second Language (ESL)) in the state's 28 community colleges. Data was gathered through a literature search, a survey of directors of developmental programs, Bureau of Research and Information Systems records, and site visits at seven colleges. The data indicated that 103,679 students were enrolled in preparatory courses in 1992-93, representing a diverse group consisting of 60% female, 57% part-time, 54% White, 30% Black, and 13% Hispanic. Based on study findings, the following recommendations were made for institutional and statewide policy: (1) acknowledge preparatory instruction as part of state community college mission; (2) set the entry placement test so that students are placed in credit or preparatory courses as appropriate; (3) maintain uniform procedures for tracking preparatory student outcomes; (4) review vocational preparatory programs further; (5) explore alternative instructional strategies to decrease the time for improving student skills; (6) increase funding and recommend that colleges seek federal, state, and other sources to develop more comprehensive and intensive counseling and teaching approaches; (7) continue efforts to secure funding and extend faculty development programs for computers; (8) conduct a statewide review of ESL programs; (9) increase funds for support services to 0.4% of direct instructional costs; (10) strengthen articulation efforts between colleges and schools; and (11) endorse the recommendations of a high school preparation Task Force for increasing high school graduates' performance levels. The survey instrument and data tables are appended. Contains 12 references. (KP)