Analyzes the extent of adult illiteracy in the United States and identifies the major problems and needs found in the literature and in interviews with adult learners. Recommends ways to improve educational efforts and discusses what is known about effective adult literacy programs. (CJH)

Describes experiences in teaching adults to read and discusses the following needs of illiterate adult students: a program containing adult materials and a low student/teacher ratio, teachers skilled in teaching basic skills who are knowledgeable about a variety of teaching methodologies, and a way to find and bring them into the classroom. (EL)