About Literacy What is Literacy? Literacy is the ability to read, write, compute, and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full potential as a parent, employee, and community member. (www.proliteracy.org) Types of Literacy (anchor) Types of Literacy Prose Literacy: The knowledge and skills needed to perform prose tasks, (i.e., to search, comprehend, and use continuous texts), such as reading editorials, news stories, brochures, and instructional materials. 29% of American Adults have only basic Prose Literacy 14% of American Adults have below basic Prose Literacy Document Literacy: The knowledge and skills needed to perform document tasks, such as job applications, payroll forms, transportation schedules, maps, tables, and drug or food labels. 22% of American Adults have only basic Document Literacy 12% have below basic Document Literacy Quantitative Literacy: The knowledge and skills required to perform quantitative tasks, such as balancing a checkbook, figuring out a tip, completing an order form or determining the amount. 33% of American Adults have only basic Quantitative Literacy 22% have below basic Quantitative Literacy http://nces.ed.gov/NAAL/PDF/2006470_1.PDF Reading Levels: Drivers license manual 6th grade Instructions on a frozen TV dinner 8th grade Directions on an aspirin bottle 8th grade Guide to Social Security benefits 9th grade Insurance policy 12th grade An apartment lease CollegWhat is Literacy? Literacy is the ability to read, write, compute, and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full potential as a parent, employee, and community member. (www.proliteracy.org) Types of Literacy (anchor) Types of Literacy Prose Literacy: The knowledge and skills needed to perform prose tasks, (i.e., to search, comprehend, and use continuous texts), such as reading editorials, news stories, brochures, and instructional materials. 29% of American Adults have only basic Prose Literacy 14% of American Adults have below basic Prose Literacy e Reading Levels to Work: Cook 7th grade Mechanic 8th grade Supply clerk 9th -10th grade To get a GED 8th - 9th grade Adult Basic Education 5th - 6th grade What is Illiteracy? (anchor) Types of Illiteracy An illiterate person has no reading or writing ability. A functionally illiterate person has some reading and writing skills but not enough to function in our complex and technological society. Illiteracy cuts across all economic, social, and racial boundaries. It has devastating personal costs, including fear, social isolation, and loss of self-esteem. It reduces economic productivity and affects family life. Why Literacy is Important? (anchor) The importance of Literacy • In the United States an estimated 30 million people over the age of 16 read no better than the average elementary school child. • Worldwide, nearly 800 million adults are illiterate in their native languages; two-thirds of them are women. • Literacy is essential to eradicating poverty, improving infant mortality rates, addressing gender inequality, and creating sustainable development. • Without literacy skills—the abilities to read, to write, to do math, to solve problems, and to access and use technology—today’s adults will struggle to take part in the world around them and fail to reach their full potential as parents, community members, and employees. (www.proliteracy.org) Literacy in Maryland (anchor) In Maryland, • 19% of the population, nearly 800,000 adults over the age of 16, do not have a high school diploma or the ability to speak English well (RTI Study and 2000 census). • Maryland is one of the top destinations for foreign born individuals with 77% of these speaking a language other than English at home and 22% speaking English not at all or not well (US Census Bureau). • Only 5% of this target population is enrolled in literacy programs. (http://www.umbc.edu/alrc/Literacy_Awareness/QuickFacts.pdf )