This document presents and examines Iowa's adult basic education (ABE) program benchmarks, which have been designed as criteria for evaluating the following aspects of the performance of ABE programs in Iowa's community colleges: educational gains; program planning; curriculum/instruction; staff development; support services; and recruitment/retention. The introduction provides an overview of Iowa's efforts in the area of ABE program accountability and the legislative mandates for benchmarks for ABE. Key terms related to benchmarks/accountability are defined. Discussed next are the following: characteristics of benchmarks; considerations in developing a statewide accountability system; Iowa's Literacy/ABE Vision 2005; the Iowa context of ABE; and the Iowa ABE benchmarks' underlying philosophy, development, and utilization. Next, the actual benchmarks are presented. The following information is provided for each benchmark: title and number, number of the applicable performance standard; extent to which it had been implemented as of 1995 and is to be implemented by 2000 and 2005; explanation; rationale; and source. The bibliography lists 32 references. Appended are a chronological listing of continuing education/ABE/General Educational Development program accountability studies and benchmark data sources published in 1982-1996 and listing of focus areas, indicators of program growth, performance measures, and performance standards. (MN)