The purpose of this project was to develop a process that would reduce the attrition rate of adult basic education students entering occupational programs. To accomplish this goal, adult basic education students in occupational programs, adult basic education students who had dropped out of occupational programs, and their instructors were interviewed to determine their perceptions of the difficulties faced by adult basic education students in an occupational program. The results of these interviews show a need to focus on basic skills, study skills, career awareness and personal social skills. The results of the interviews were used to develop a procedure manual for analyzing an occupational program in welding. (The survey instruments and the sample process manual for welding are appended.) (LRA)