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One in five Americans functions at the lowest level of literacy. Workers without a high school diploma earn 60 cents
compared to the dollar earned by a high school graduate, and only 34 cents
compared to the dollar earned by a college graduate. Six out of ten inmates in America
function at the lowest levels of literacy. 85 percent of juvenile offenders have reading problems. Five billion dollars a year (estimated) is spent in public assistance to people who can't get a job due to low literacy. The average kindergarten student has spent more time in front of the TV than it takes to earn a bachelor's degree.
* Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education, National Institute for Literacy, National Assessment of Education Programs, Laubach Literacy Action
The problem in Clark County:
Nearly
21,000 adults in Clark County read below a sixth grade level.
Adults at this level can usually sign their name; total a bank deposit; find one piece of information in an article; or read street names on a map. But they cannot read an invoice or a contract; total up an order form; find two pieces of information in an article; or locate an intersection on a map.
They may have problems getting a driver license, voting, and reading warning labels. They are at a great disadvantage due to their lack of basic skills. Employers need workers who can read, write, compute math problems and communicate well, but few companies offer basic literacy training.
Children
with reading problems fail to acquire the ability to
learn.
We can help!
The Clark County Literacy Coalition is dedicated to winning the battle for literacy. We are dedicated to increasing the level of functional literacy and self-sufficiency among the
people of Clark County.
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