This handbook is intended as a practical guide for adult basic education (ABE) directors, counselors, and faculty in an effort to increase ABE student retention. Following a literature review and description of the research problem, part I contains data obtained from the four major surveys administered during a project that investigated the causes of ABE student attrition and implemented intervention strategies for increasing the retention of these students. Part II presents a number of strategies for retaining ABE students that were implemented during the project. These include student contact (excessive absence referral list, student consultations, no-show interviews, partial dropout consultations, incoming student consultations), special project (schedule change, spring quarter mini-survey), networking activities (instructor interaction, human service agency interaction), and other activities (car pool, orientation, reception, newsletter, volunteer tutors, "May Countdown"). Other contents are a theoretical model of strategies for success, implications, recommended retention strategies, and an annotated bibliography. Seven appendixes include job descriptions, survey instruments, forms and letters, enrollment figures, and special projects materials. (YLB)