- 50% of American adults cannot read a book written at an 8th-grade level.
- 45 million Americans are functionally illiterate.
- 1/3 of 4th-graders reach the proficient reading level.
- 85% of juvenile offenders have problems reading.
- 3 out of 5 people in American prisons can’t read.
- 3 out of 4 people on welfare can’t read.
(Sources: National Institute for Literacy,
National Center for Adult Literacy,
The Literacy Company,
U.S. Census Bureau)