The Adult Education Act, which provides federal funds for adult basic education (ABE) programs, has undergone many changes since enactment in 1964. Passage of ABE legislation as Title 11B under the Office of Economic Opportunity Act was a political solution for adult educators who had sought unsuccessfully for years for federal ABE legislation. Its association with manpower and antipoverty legislation was a temporary expedient resolved through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. A major change in ABE legislation was a broadening of the statement of purpose to include non-English speaking participants. The 1966 Adult Education Act also created a National Advisory Committee on ABE. The 1970 amendments reduced participant minimum age and revised the statement of purpose to permit participation of adults through completion of secondary school. The major change in the 1972 amendments concerned authorization of grants to improve educational opportunities for adult Indians. The 1974 amendments authorized grants for educational programs serving the elderly and provided that 15% of state grant funds were to be used for special projects and teacher training. The 1978 amendments retreated from encouragement of greater state control of ABE and reestablished discretionary funds at the federal level to support national priorities. (YLB)