We teach adults to read.
We provide
free ,
confidential, one-on-one tutoring in reading,
writing, and speaking English.
Adult Literacy:
About 42% of adults in Maine are functioning at the lowest
levels of
literacy.
Calendar:
News:
Stay current on adult literacy.
Support Us:
See how you can help us. We
have
several creative giving
opportunities.
Learn more . . .
Contact Us:
Site Map:
Adult Literacy Facts
"Literacy is
using printed and written
information to
achieve personal
goals,
develop knowledge
and build
potential to better
participate in
society."
(National
Assessment
of Adult Literacy Survey
2003)
• One in seven adults in Maine is functionally illiterate, approximately189,000 people. • About 42% of adults in Maine are functioning at the lowest levels of literacy. • If parents cannot read well it is likely that their children will not read well either. • For the first time ever, nearly one-fifth of America's children speak a language other than English at home. • 61% of low-income homes have no books in them. • 20% of adults do not read well enough to earn a living wage. • Between 41% and 44% of adults with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty. • 60% of prison inmates are illiterate. 75% lack a high school diploma. • 85% of juvenile offenders have reading problems. • 76% of adults on public assistance are illiterate or unable to read more than the simplest of texts. • 50% of the chronically unemployed and 33% of all welfare recipients are functionally illiterate. Welfare recipients with the lowest educational skills stay on welfare the longest. • Low literacy among adults costs the U.S. at least $225 billion each year in lost wages and profits, crime, and loss of tax revenue. • 83% of unemployed parents lack a high school diploma. • Without a high school diploma or GED individuals earn 42% less and are more likely to be unemployed. • 50% of the unemployed between the ages of 16-21 are functionally, illiterate, 85% of juvenile offenders have problems reading. • Americans companies lose more that $60 billion annually from lost productivity and health and safety issues caused by illiteracy. • Basic skills remediation costs businesses $300 million and the military $70 million. • Low literacy costs the U.S. $238 billion each year in health expenses. • Adults with inadequate literacy and their families are twice as likely to be in poor health than the general population and their medical costs four times as great. Literacy
Volunteers can help change all of
this.
|