This paper examines some of the assertions in support of major public policy changes that would aid the delivery of education to adults and reviews some of the adult education programs and policy proposals currently being discussed. The introduction (section 1), provides statistical and background information on adult participation in education. Section 2 describes the current overall level of participation in adult education and identifies those factors (age, previous education, income) which most strongly affect it. Trends in participation over time are examined and target groups for proposed programs are also described. In the third section, several estimates of future participation in adult education are discussed in the following areas: projections based on total participation rates, age, and previous education; continuation of increase in participation rates; and latent demand for adult education. Section 4 describes the extent of the existing public investment in the adult education and discusses some of the proposals currently under consideration, grouped as follows: (1) development of instructional materials and methods; (2) development and provision of facilitating services; (3) removal of obstacles to further adult participation; (4) major funding proposals including subsidies, entitlements, and loans; and (5) creation of tax incentives. The final section suggests priorities among these proposals and places them within the context of other competing demands for public support. (SH)