In fiscal year 1987, approximately 12,000 inmates, or 29 percent of the 44,000 incarcerated adults at least 18 years old, enrolled in adult basic education (ABE) programs. Six thousand five hundred completed their programs. Another 3,500 enrolled in the General Educational Development (GED) program and 2,800 received diplomas. All inmates who enter the federal prison system must take the Adult Basic Level Examination (ABLE). All inmates whose score on any subtest is below the 8.0 grade level must enter ABE for 90 days. During that time, they must attend at least 2 hours per day, unless they have only one subtest to remediate. Inmates who complete the 90-day period may choose to drop out of school. However, only inmates who have obtained their ABE credential can be paid more than entry-level pay grades in any industry or institutional work detail. The teaching staff encourage inmates to remain in school until they finish. Handicapped learners are exempted from the 8.0 grade-level performance requirement for promotion and can instead be promoted after demonstrating sustained effort, remaining in school to work to their potential for an agreed-upon amount of time, and receiving a recommendation from their work supervisor. The ABE program receives top priority within the school and is one of only two mandatory programs within the Bureau of Prisons. The other mandatory program is work. The total budget for all education programs, including ABE, GED, vocational training, recreation, postsecondary, social education, and leisure time is approximately $25 million. That includes salaries, contracts, equipment, and operating costs. (The document also includes answers to such questions as the following: Who is learning to read and how is that measured? How are teachers trained to assess student progress? What has been the biggest problem with assessment procedures? and What is best for motivating students? Also included are two references.) (CML)