The state of the art of literacy development among culturally different adult students is assessed. The report represents the first year's activities of a three-year research project to explore the acquisition of literacy among these adults at community colleges. Chapter I examines the evolutionary nature of the definitions of literacy and discusses philosophical considerations, including the goals of literacy education. Chapter II analyzes sociocultural factors including ethnicity, alienation, sociolinguistics, and cultural relativism. Chapter III discusses the implications of brain research for literacy development, especially those findings from studies on hemispheric specialization concerned with malnutrition and brain growth. Chapter IV examines cognitive considerations, such as cognitive shifts, imagery, language and thought, cognitive maintenance and life style, and comprehension. Chapter V analyzes the administrative and instructional conditions within the community college that promote student success and presents a multi-disciplinary research proposal for the study of a theory and method of literacy development. The report is appended by a review of the year's activities, a listing of proposed activities for the next two years, information on the methods to be used for data collection, and a list of references. (Author/JP)