The Kentucky Competency-Based Adult Education (KCBAE) curriculum was developed over a 3-year period and ultimately distributed to all Kentucky adult education and literacy programs in 1995-96. Sixteen competency/duty areas define the subject content. Although each duty area is divided into three skill levels (beginning and intermediate adult basic education and adult secondary education), grade levels are de-emphasized out of consideration for the wealth of experience and knowledge adults bring to classes regardless of their academic skills. The curriculum features a comprehensive assessment plan designed to provide information about learners' initial abilities at entry into the curriculum, monitor their progress, and measure their performance upon completion of the program. The curriculum was successfully field tested at 14 sites in Kentucky and 3 sites in West Virginia. (Appendixes constituting approximately 75% of this document contain the following: the KCBAE curriculum guide in the ERIC database; table cross-referencing the curriculum's competencies with state and national skill lists; duty areas/competencies for Kentucky adult education/literacy; sample competency certificate and individual progress records; directions for writing the curriculum; map of the field test sites; summaries of teacher/ student evaluations of the curriculum materials; and report on the assessments used in the pilot testing.) (MN)