In the 1985-86 academic year, progress was made in increasing the availability of adult basic education (ABE) programs throughout Pennsylvania and in reducing both the overall rate of premature program separation and the rate of enrollees who dropped out of the program before meeting their personal objective. Demographic characteristics of the 25,531 students who were enrolled in ABE during the year under examination were similar to those of students in previous years. The student population continued to be young, single, and nearly evenly divided with respect to sex. The most frequent reason for program participation cited was to obtain a diploma, and friends and relatives were students' most frequent source of information about ABE program offerings. Although there was a 1.0 percent decrease from 1984-85, the student-to-staff ratio remained 12 to 1 in 1985-86. In paid positions, female staff barely outnumbered male staff; however, females comprised over three-fourths of ABE volunteers. Significant efforts to cooperate with other agencies, increase student enrollments, and offer programming to meet the needs of various special target groups were also evident for the year under study. (Appendixes include the survey instruments used to gather data, the statistical section of the 1985-86 Federal Adult Education Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, a 1985-86 county-by-county summary of ABE programs in Pennsylvania, and a report on 1985-86 Section 310-funded projects. Twenty-one tables and seven figures are also included.) (MN)