The work force in the state of Michigan is currently below the projected educational levels for new jobs, since more than half the new jobs that will be created between now and the year 2000 will require some postsecondary education. The biggest single problem that exists for Michiganians attempting to upgrade their skills is that there are so many programs available--all with different intake procedures, standards, and purposes. A strategy for improving Michigan's skill-building system was developed as a result of an adult literacy task force study. This skill-building system is called the Michigan Human Investment System and is comprised of two key components: the Michigan Opportunity Card, and the Michigan Human Investment Fund. The Michigan Opportunity Card resembles a bank card and offers access to the 70 separate adult training and educational programs for all adults in Michigan. The card has a computer chip embedded in it which encodes information about the cardholder of interest to the various job training, educational assessment and referral and placement agencies and programs in Michigan. The card is designed to provide both easy access by the user and a method for the state to track a user's progress in the system. The Human Investment Fund provides the infrastructure to assure that the card operates smoothly and transparently for the user, as well as assuring fiscal accountability. (RS)