A study examined nontraditional, community-based rural General Educational Development (GED) programming outreach efforts in Pennsylvania. Data for the study were obtained through two computerized bibliographic searches, interviews and phone calls to the GED Testing Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and from phone calls to the GED Testing Division in Washington, DC. These data indicated that rural adults want to play a role in both planning and directing adult educational programs. They want and need education and training that will empower them to be change agents within their respective communities; such training includes job training and retraining for members of both sexes and training targeted to meet the needs of women returning to the work force. Both family learning and community-based programs are needed. After analyzing several single- and multidimensional approaches to rural GED programming, it was recommended that planners of such programs in Pennsylvania do the following: develop comprehensive interorganizational community relationships and linkages, maintain a community education outlook, be willing to modify programming on an ongoing basis to respond to everchanging community needs, and maintain a constant awareness of future funding considerations. (MN)