The potential of programs supported by the Basic State Grants section of the federal Adult Education Act was evaluated; the first interim part of the study provides descriptive information on the adult education service delivery system. The study drew primarily on data collected from two surveys of local adult education programs--a universe survey of 2,619 local programs (93 percent response) and a program profile of a representative sample of 139 local programs (94 percent response). Some of the findings of the study are the following: (1) 3.7 million clients were served during 1989-90--57 percent females, 43 percent between 16-24 years old, 17 percent black, and 13 percent Hispanic; (2) 2,819 programs were supported by the Adult Education Act during the year ending June 30, 1990, with 70 percent of programs administered by local education agencies and 15 percent by community colleges; (3) most programs had fewer than 500 clients, and about half of the programs serve rural areas; (4) more than 80 percent of adult education instructors work part time; (5) 35 percent of clients are enrolled in adult basic instruction, 30 percent in English as a Second Language, and 30 percent in adult special education; (6) most programs scored low on "professionalism," although most clients were in programs that rated high on this factor; (7) programs that showed high degrees of service integration were mostly very large and located in metropolitan areas; (8) programs use multiple techniques to recruit clients, especially media announcements, referrals, fliers, posters, and mailings, and current client recommendations; and (9) almost half of the programs were under capacity, whereas 25 percent had waiting lists. (Appendixes include the survey forms and 12 references.) (KC)