In Kansas, local and state adult education leaders realized that leadership standards cannot be ignored if adult education is to be perceived as a professional discipline within the state's larger educational community. The perfect opportunity to study and develop leadership standards for adult education directors and coordinators presented itself during 2008. Kansas State University and the Kansas Board of Regents implemented an Adult Basic Education (ABE) Leadership Academy, a three-year leadership and management training program for 40 directors and coordinators from adult learning centers in Kansas. This article discusses the development of the Kansas Adult Education Leadership Standards. The standards are designed to set high expectations for individuals and to assist in designing professional development opportunities for all adult education leaders, from those who have only a few years of experience to those who have served as center directors for twenty years. The purpose of these standards is to raise the level of leadership and increase professional acuity as well as to enhance each center's ability to improve student outcomes and performance. (Contains 1 table.)