Low Literacy is a Critical Issue in North Texas
Adults at the lowest levels of literacy are in the greatest need of our attention. Illiterate adults do not have the full range of economic, employment, social and personal choices which are available to people with higher levels of literacy.
In a recent poll, 90% of Fortune 100 executives expressed concern that low literacy is hurting their productivity and profitability. More than 60% of non-managerial jobs in Dallas require a high school diploma. Children of parents who are unemployed and have not completed high school are five times more likely to drop out than are children of employed parents.
Why should we care? - Because we need a productive and growing workforce…
- Because we want our families to thrive…
- Because we want lower health care costs and more efficient health care…
- Because we want to reduce poverty and get people off of welfare…
No one literacy organization will reach all 49% of low literate adults in the greater Dallas area. Not all want to be helped. But there are at least 8,000 individuals this year who will find it in themselves to overcome their embarrassment at not being able to read, and will call LIFT, or get a friend of relative to call. These dedicated learners will make an appointment for an assessment, rearrange job shifts and baby sitting schedules, drive or take the bus, despite not being able to read a map or bus schedule. They will signs up for classes and walk into that first class even though they are scared that it will be like all the other times in school that were so humiliating. For those people, LIFT must continue its proven programs of learning… and is grateful for the help of generous individuals and community organizations who make those programs possible. From July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 LIFT served 8,325 adult learners.
During this time frame, 8,070 classes met and 121,182 class hours were logged.
18% of these adult learners (1,479) were enrolled in Adult Literacy classes. 20% of these read below a second grade level, 50% read between a 2nd and a 4th grade level and 30% read above a 4th grade level.
82% of the adult learnesr who completed their course improved at least one grade level
99% of the adult learners who completed their course improved on at least half of their goals
67% of the adult learners completed their course (compared with a national average of 10%) |