This paper describes the development of an array of adult services within New York State's educational structure. The first of seven sections reviews the roles of Melvin Dewey, the 1938 Regents Inquiry, and Proficiency Exams/Regents Degrees in the evolution of state education policy. In section 2, three studies (1972 Postsecondary Education Study, 1975 Continuing Education Needs Assessment, and the 1978 Study of Adult Education) are reviewed and conclusions are drawn from the studies' results. The Adult Learning Services Project, a response to the studies' findings, is described. The next four sections discuss various state education department services: (1) services to adults who have not completed high school (adult basic education, high school equivalency, right to read, and consumer homemaking); (2) services to adults at the postsecondary level (college proficiency examinations, the regents external degree, Empire State College, program on noncollegiate-sponsored instruction, volunteer advisory network, library independent learner projects, Higher Education Act Title IA, and professional continuing education); (3) multi-level services (occupational rehabilitation, veterans education, occupational education, parent education, employees of other state agencies, and correction institutions); and (4) informal services (museums and television). In the final section, the state education department's future tasks to meet adult needs are identified. (CSS)