All second and third graders in California public schools were administered the Reading Test of the California Assessment Program; performance of all sixth and twelfth graders in reading, written expression, spelling, and mathematics was assessed with the Survey of Basic Skills. Findings were compared to those of previous years and can be summarized as follows: (1) Reading achievement scores (grades 2 and 3) have been improving steadily since 1966. (2) Sixth graders improved in all four content areas. (3) Grade 12 students improved in written expression and spelling, held steady in mathematics, but continued to decline in reading. (4) Equating studies indicated that grades 3 and 6 scored above the national median; grade 12 scored below. (5) At all grade levels, females outscored males in reading, while the reverse was true of math. (6) Pupils who spoke limited English scored substantially lower than fluent English groups. (7) Test scores and socioeconomic status were directly related. (8) Student mobility continued to increase. Recognized authorities made instructional recommendations in each content area based upon the findings. Sample test questions are presented to illustrate the relative strengths and weaknesses of California students. (Author/CP)