The numbers tell the story...
U.S. Facts - Adults over 16

14% read at or below a fifth grade level.


29% only read at the eighth grade level.

Among those with the lowest literacy rates, 43% live in poverty.


Corrections
75% of state prison inmates and 59% of federal prison inmates did not complete high school or can be classified as low literate.

Health
Low literacy adds an estimated $230 billion to the country's annual health care costs.

Workforce
The effects of low literacy cost the U.S. more than $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce tax revenue due to unemployment.