FACTS

An estimated 2/3 of students who are unable to read with proficiency by the end of 4th grade will end up on welfare or in jail
Worldwide, 12%—or 775 million adults—are considered functionally illiterate
Over 93 million Americans have basic or below-basic literacy. Low literacy rates costs the United States over $200 billion each year.
For every dollar that is spent on adult illiteracy, society receives $7.14 in returns, either through decreased expenditures or increased revenues
Approximately 90% of high school dropouts are on welfare
About 2/3 of the world’s lowest literate adults are women.
Worldwide, low literacy rates can be linked to several disasters, including high infant mortality; the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other preventable infectious disease; prejudice against women, including female infanticide and female circumcision; and extreme poverty.
Crime is strongly linked to illiteracyOver 70% of America’s inmates cannot read past a 4th grade level.
Crime is strongly linked to illiteracy
Over 70% of America’s inmates cannot read past a 4th grade level.
South Sudan is the world’s least literate country, with a literacy rate of just 27%. Approximately 70% of children aged 6–17 years old have never set foot in a classroom.