This annual report of the National Advisory Council on Adult Education highlights the activities undertaken by the Council during Fiscal Year 1987. These activities included the following: (1) co-sponsorship with the University of Pennsylvania of a symposium, "Towards Defining Literacy" (an overview of the work of the symposium is presented in this report, and the papers are being prepared for publication); (2) sponsorship of five major hearings in key geographic areas in the United States regarding reauthorization of the Adult Education Act--testimony was received from state directors of adult education, local program directors, directors of nonprofit programs, and volunteer tutors and students, and was summarized and presented to Congress; and (3) participation in numerous workshops and conferences regarding the state of literacy and literacy education in the country. The document provides testimony presented to the Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts, and Humanities in August of 1987; shortly after this, the Council was scheduled for abolishment. The appendixes includes the Adult Education Act and its amendments through October 1984 and nine pages of charts and tables. (KC)