Literacy Statistics

Recently, I discovered the following statistics which I find to be astounding:

*More than 20 percent of adults read at or below a fifth-grade level - far below the level needed to earn a living wage. National Institute for Literacy, Fast Facts on Literacy, 2001

*According to the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 37 percent of fourth graders and 26 percent of eighth graders cannot read at the basic level; and on the 2002 NAEP 26 percent of twelfth graders cannot read at the basic level. That is, when reading grade appropriate text these students cannot extract the general meaning or make obvious connections between the text and their own experiences or make simple inferences from the text. In other words, they can not understand what they have read. National Assessment of Educational Progress

*It is estimated that more than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade because they have reading problems. United States Department of Health and Human Services

*60 Percent of America's prison inmates are illiterate and 85% of all juvenile offenders have reading problems. United States Department of Education

*Children who have not developed some basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are 3-4 times more likely to drop out in later years. National Adult Literacy Survey, (2002) NCES, United States Department of Education

These statistics prove why we need to spread the importance of Reading: The Key to Your Future to our youth, adults and community partners.