The second of two conferences on adult literacy focused on the broader contexts of adult literacy. That is, lack of basic skills is not a problem in a vaccum but is bound up with people's other problems and needs and the forces shaping their lives; likewise, efforts to teach basic skills must be viewed in relation to the local, state, and national institutions that are or need to be involved in those efforts. An ideal learning society would be learner oriented, pluralistic, interdependent, community oriented, accountable, and evolving. Problems with educational reform and adult literacy include lack of use of research findings; bureaucratic resistance; evaluations based on head counts, not service outcomes; negative messages to nonreaders; and public confusion. Recommended solutions include the use of a team-building approach, bypassing bureaucracies, the use of a public education campaign, bringing the business community into adult literacy programs, and strong national legislation for adult education. (The report includes an overview, a summary of the visions of what is needed that emerged from the conference, a list of problems, brief descriptions of some suggested solutions, a page of quotations from participants, and a list of the 24 conference participants.) (CML)