This study examined the progress of nine collaborative student academic development programs in California which focused on improving the preparation of secondary school students for college and university study. The programs were selected for inclusion on the basis of commonalities along the following dimensions: a goal of increasing the number of students pursuing higher education from groups with historically low college-going rates; collaboration between public schools and higher education institutions; emphasis on direct services; and a focus on the transition between secondary and postsecondary education. Those programs studied were: Advancement via Individual Determination; Alliance for Collaborative Change in Education in School Success; California Academic Partnership Program; California Student Opportunity and Access Program; College Readiness Program; Early Academic Outreach Program; Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement; Middle College; and the Urban School-Community Collaborative. Overall, it was found that the programs were effective in helping students prepare for college. Among 1994 high school graduates, program participants attended colleges and universities at a rate of 64.5 percent (compared to a statewide rate of 53.2 percent and a rate among students from similar backgrounds of 42.6 percent). Extensive tables and graphs detail the study's findings. An appendix provides a detailed report of the participation of individual California secondary schools in each of the projects. (JLS)