A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO 200 DIRECTORS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ADULT EDUCATION IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY FUNCTIONS, ROLE, AND SKILLS AND ABILITIES OF ADMINISTRATORS OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY ADULT EDUCATION. RESPONDENTS RATED EACH FUNCTION ON A SCALE FROM ESSENTIAL TO INAPPLICABLE AND COMPETENCIES ON A SIMILAR SCALE. CHIEF PROBLEM AREAS INCLUDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, STAFF PROBLEMS, PROGRAM PLANNING, AND FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND MATERIALS. BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF PROGRAM ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION, ABILITY TO CREATE WHOLESOME RELATIONSHIPS, AND EXECUTIVE ABILITY WERE HIGHLY RATED COMPETENCIES. MAJOR FUNCTIONS FELL INTO 12 CATEGORIES--ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE, PROGRAM PURPOSES, PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES AND MATERIALS, STUDENT PERSONNEL SERVICES, STAFF PERSONNEL, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, FINANCE, SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND PROMOTION, COMMUNITY SERVICES, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND RESEARCH. (INCLUDED ARE APPENDIXES, 89 TABLES, AND 110 REFERENCES.) THIS DOCTORAL THESIS IS AVAILABLE FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, ANN ARBOR, MICH. ORDER NO. MIC. 64-6931. MICROFILM $5.30. XEROGRAPHY $18.70. 415 PAGES. (LY)