What of Americans can't read?

About 130 million adults in the U.S. have low literacy skills according to a Gallup analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education. This means more than half of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 (54%) read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.

apmresearchlab.org - Reading the numbers: 130 million American adults have low literacy ...

What food takes the longest to digest?

The foods with the longest time to digest are bacon, beef, lamb, whole milk hard cheese, and nuts. These foods take an average of about 4 hours for...

Last updated Nov 17, 2020

Is 30 too late to start over?

No one is too old for starting over. You can find a job that makes you happy and fulfilled. Depending on your age, you may have 35 years or more of...

Last updated Apr 20, 2018

Promotion

While Feinberg said anyone can have low literacy, adults who have poor reading skills tend to live in underserved communities with few resources, or what she calls a “print desert.” In these areas, she said there is little signage beyond local stores as well as few libraries and bookstores. Even with the internet’s ability to make books and other reading materials more universally accessible, adults who live in “print deserts” may still face serious challenges. “They likely went to schools that weren't supported by a wealthy tax base,” Feinberg said. “And so, they don't have good internet access. They may not know how to use the internet if [they] can't spell very well. You're [going to] have a really hard time finding things.” To support adults with low literacy rates and lacking other important skills, adult basic education (ABE) and literacy programs provide environments for learning at the local level. But they also provide opportunities for data collection. Many of these programs offer one-on-one tutoring and group classes for literacy, numeracy, English as a second language (ESL) and high school equivalency among other topics. Patterson said adult literacy program attendance nationally has decreased over the past two decades due to lack of funding and public schools pushing for more students to graduate high school. She estimates that these programs are losing about 100,000 people per year. According to the U.S. Department of Education National Reporting System, in the 2001-2002 fiscal year, 2.78 million adults were enrolled, while in 2019-2020, 1.1 million were enrolled. Feinberg said this federal funding goes toward communities based on the percentage of people without a high school diploma. The funding is broken into basic funding for adult education and literacy services and the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) program, which supports English language learners.

However, Patterson said this funding is not enough to make sufficient impact.

“Within the last couple of years, there's been more of an emphasis on getting additional funding,” she said. “But essentially, when you have the same amount of money, inflation [and] cost of living would imply that it's just going to get worse and worse.” Based on the PIAAC data, APM Research Lab took a closer look at differences in federal and state funding for two states at opposite ends of the adult literacy spectrum: Minnesota and New Mexico. On the high end, 57% of Minnesota adults scored at or above a Level 3 literacy proficiency, followed closely by Washington (56%) and New Hampshire (55%), while on the low end, 29% of adults in New Mexico scored at or below a Level 1 proficiency, followed by California (28%) and Texas (28%). New Mexico’s population is less than half of Minnesota’s (2.1 million compared to 5.7 million). Federal adult education funding, which is allocated based on need, is heavily tilted toward New Mexico which receives nearly three-fourths of the amount sent to Minnesota: $5.1 million compared to $6.9 million in 2021. State funding for adult education in New Mexico is only a fraction of Minnesota’s: $6.2 million in 2019-2020 program year compared to $49.8 million.

What are the essentials for a Go Bag?

Include the following items in each Go Bag: Food – 3-day supply. Warmth/Shelter – Emergency blanket, 3 12-hour body warmers, poncho. Medical...

Last updated Jun 22, 2020

Can I legally walk around with a knife?

In general, it is legal to carry a knife in most states. However, there are often limits on knives or bladed weapons that may be carried. Jul 6, 2022

Last updated Jan 2, 2019

Promotion

Do old books rot?

As paper ages, these fibers can weaken or break down causing deterioration. The top two factors that influence this deterioration are the paper's composition and the conditions of the paper's storage.

colorado.edu - Common forms of book decay found on bookshelves | University Libraries

Imagine pulling a book from the shelf and noticing the pages have yellowed since it was purchased. You open the book, only to see brown spots all over the title page. Confused, you close the book, and flakes of leather fall to the floor. “What happened to my book?” you wonder. But books may be exposed to moisture or environmental air pollutants that interact with the parts of the books themselves. The interaction can lead to chemical reactions that can produce more acids, and thus, continue the process of degradation. “Paper is primarily made up of cellulose fibers made from mashing down wood into a pulp,” Conservator Hillary Morgan explains. “The length of fibers in each sheet of paper help to determine its strength. Long-fibered paper is stronger and more flexible than short-fibered paper.” As paper ages, these fibers can weaken or break down causing deterioration. The top two factors that influence this deterioration are the paper’s composition and the conditions of the paper’s storage. The following are the three most common types of book decay you may discover on your bookshelf:

How many months of emergency money should you have?

While the size of your emergency fund will vary depending on your lifestyle, monthly costs, income, and dependents, the rule of thumb is to put...

Last updated Apr 26, 2018

What country eats a lot of Spam?

Guam is not just a country known for its deliberate and strategic military position, but they're also known for the astonishing amount of Spam...

Last updated Mar 15, 2020

Promotion

How tall should a 15 year old be?

This can be clearly seen when they almost finish their puberty, usually from the age of 15 and up. Generally speaking, the average height for 15...

Last updated Aug 11, 2020

Promotion

Which country gets 97% of its drinking water through the process of desalination?

While 97% of Saudis have access to potable water, Saudi Arabia is classified as one of the most water-scarce nations on the planet. The absolute...

Last updated Jan 18, 2020