Post by Ted on Apr 22, 2015 3:49:03 GMT -8
Searching the net will reveal there are several studies on literacy in the US. Published in 2002, the information and link below is from a US government report on literacy. Subsequent studies by other organizations have stated literacy has not increased much in the US since this report.....
The Literacy Skills of America’s Adults
•
Twenty-one to 23 percent — or some 40 to 44 million of the 191 million
adults in this country — demonstrated skills in the lowest level of prose,
document, and quantitative proficiencies (Level 1). Though all adults in this
level displayed limited skills, their characteristics are diverse. Many adults in
this level performed simple, routine tasks involving brief and uncomplicated
texts and documents. For example, they were able to total an entry on a
deposit slip, locate the time or place of a meeting on a form, and identify a
piece of specific information in a brief news article. Others were unable to
perform these types of tasks, and some had such limited skills that they were
unable to respond to much of the survey.
•
Many factors help to explain why so many adults demonstrated English
literacy skills in the lowest proficiency level defined (Level 1). Twenty-five
percent of the respondents who performed in this level were immigrants
who may have been just learning to speak English. Nearly two-thirds of
those in Level 1 (62 percent) had terminated their education before
completing high school. A third were age 65 or older, and 26 percent had
physical, mental, or health conditions that kept them from participating fully
in work, school, housework, or other activities. Nineteen percent of the
respondents in Level 1 reported having visual difficulties that affect their
ability to read print.
•
Some 25 to 28 percent of the respondents, representing about 50 million
adults nationwide, demonstrated skills in the next higher level of proficiency
(Level 2) on each of the literacy scales. While their skills were more varied
than those of individuals performing in Level 1, their repertoire was still
quite limited.
***
The report is a tad lengthy.
Link to complete report... nces.ed.gov/pubs93/93275.pdf
The Literacy Skills of America’s Adults
•
Twenty-one to 23 percent — or some 40 to 44 million of the 191 million
adults in this country — demonstrated skills in the lowest level of prose,
document, and quantitative proficiencies (Level 1). Though all adults in this
level displayed limited skills, their characteristics are diverse. Many adults in
this level performed simple, routine tasks involving brief and uncomplicated
texts and documents. For example, they were able to total an entry on a
deposit slip, locate the time or place of a meeting on a form, and identify a
piece of specific information in a brief news article. Others were unable to
perform these types of tasks, and some had such limited skills that they were
unable to respond to much of the survey.
•
Many factors help to explain why so many adults demonstrated English
literacy skills in the lowest proficiency level defined (Level 1). Twenty-five
percent of the respondents who performed in this level were immigrants
who may have been just learning to speak English. Nearly two-thirds of
those in Level 1 (62 percent) had terminated their education before
completing high school. A third were age 65 or older, and 26 percent had
physical, mental, or health conditions that kept them from participating fully
in work, school, housework, or other activities. Nineteen percent of the
respondents in Level 1 reported having visual difficulties that affect their
ability to read print.
•
Some 25 to 28 percent of the respondents, representing about 50 million
adults nationwide, demonstrated skills in the next higher level of proficiency
(Level 2) on each of the literacy scales. While their skills were more varied
than those of individuals performing in Level 1, their repertoire was still
quite limited.
***
The report is a tad lengthy.
Link to complete report... nces.ed.gov/pubs93/93275.pdf