The development of regional systems of continuous education is becoming a priority of the educational policy. This is a demand of the modernization: a functionalist principle .one education for the whole life. is being replaced by the principle of .lifelong learning. that affirms the worth of independent education activities, individualization of education trajectories, and a flexible relationship between the education system and the job market. The article presents the results of study performed by the Russian Government.s Center for Monitoring of Human Resources in Spring 2006. The aim of the study was to diagnose processes of the development of regional systems of continuous education in two pilot regions: the Voronezh region and the Chuvash Republic.