The manual is designed to assist California educators and public in understanding the various aspects of an effective English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program for adults. It provides theory-based and practical guidelines for conceptualizing, planning, designing, managing, and evaluating such programs. Chapters address these topics: the adult ESL population (California demographics, student motivation, benefits to client and community); program philosophy (second language learning theory, adult learning theory, cultural and practical factors that affect adult learning); design of ESL programs (general, academic, vocational, special); management of ESL programs (teacher and staff selection, staff development, facilities and scheduling, communication and articulation, outreach, seeking additional resources); counseling, guidance, and student assessment (counseling and guidance services, ESL assessment, placement, monitoring progress, certification); instruction (goals and objectives, organization of instruction); and evaluation of instructional programs (purposes, planning, and use of findings). Appended materials include notes on selection of computer software and on community outreach, successful promotional ideas, evaluation questions for program administrators, and a program evaluation plan. References listed include evaluation instruments, readings in second language learning, and readings and references for adult education program evaluation. (MSE) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy Education)