The purpose of the COPES subsystem in consumer and homemaking education (CHE) is the improvement of the quality and availability of CHE programs and services for students of California community colleges. It achieves this purpose by: (1) providing easily administered procedures for studying CHE programs, (2) offering professional assistance in application of the subsystem, (3) encouraging the involvement of many persons with views on the college's CHE programs and services, and (4) two other methods. The subsystem's application will help a college assess what exists in relation to what is desirable in consumer and homemaking education. Application of the subsystem has seven steps: college decision, preliminary contact, team formation, college orientation, completion of instruments, team site visit, and a written report. (Author/CK)