This theme issue focuses on the need for adult literacy programs, as well as recent innovations in literacy education. "Adult Literacy and Leadership: Current Innovations" (Aurelio M. Montemayor) describes an adult literacy outreach program in Texas, and discusses the importance of family literacy for parents' involvement in their…

Texas' overall goal must be to reduce the percentage of its population without basic literacy and numeracy skills to no more than the percentage of jobs available to these underprepared workers. With only 14 percent of tomorrow's jobs projected to require less than a high school education, nearly one Texas worker in five will be unemployable. The…

Thirteen national leaders were interviewed about their concerns and hopes for adult literacy. Questions focused on research and public policy, literacy awareness, harmful notions and misconceptions in the field, and the role of the new National Institute for Literacy (NIL). Everyone interviewed stressed the need for research and public policy that…