This report on the state level use and application of the 1971-1977 Adult Performance Level (APL) study contains two reports: "Competencies for Adult Basic Education and Diploma Programs: A Summary of Studies and Cross-Reference of Results." by Joan Keller Fischer and "The APL Study: Science, Dissemination, and the Nature of Adult Education," by Walt Haney and Lloyd David. (The APL project involved the identification of competencies required to function in society, the assessment of competency levels among American adults, and the development of curricula and guides for adult competency based education programs.) In her report Joan Fischer compares the APL effort to eleven other efforts to identify adult competencies (some of them based on APL), examines the APL study, and reviews twelve national and state level competency identification efforts (in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Utah, California, and New York). She concludes with a summary of competencies deemed important by the APL and other efforts. In their report Haney and David review the history of the original APL effort, examine the conclusions of five major APL critics, add their own criticism, examine the reasons for the spread of APL to state and local programs, and point to areas for further study. They conclude that the value of APL has been its contribution to broadening the conceptions of how adult basic education can be organized and to enriching the body of curriculum materials on which adult educators can draw. They question, however, the plausibility of searching for any one set of knowledge and skills with which to define overall adult competence in a variegated and pluralistic society. (MN)