Things to know about illiteracy:

According to “Begin to Read('s)” research: [2]
85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.
Two thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare.
One child in four grows up not knowing how to read.
Penal institution records show that inmates have a 16% chance of returning to prison if they receive literary help, as opposed to 70% who receive to help.
More than 60% of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate.

Why does illiteracy occur?
-Ineffective Schooling
Nearly 1 million high school dropouts are added to the illiteracy list every year
Reading does not occupy enough time in K-12 classrooms
Curricula and graduation requirements are too easy
-There are continual “rising expectations” [1]
As a nation, our technologically advancing world generally requires a 12th grade reading level.
A 9th grade reading level is necessary to read most consumer labels on products
An 11th grade reading level is necessary to read most newspapers
Most contracts entered into require a college level reading level to understand
The standards of minimal acceptable literacy continue to escalate
Many who struggle, give up, and become functionally illiterate.
-“Intergenerational Transmission of Illiteracy” [1]
Illiteracy is a socioeconomic problem that begins in the home. Parents who are illiterate or have low reading levels will not read to children in home. These children will enter school with lower cognitive levels and abilities and illiteracy is then transmitted from generation to generation in this way.

What are the keys to solving illiteracy?
FIX: Helping those already out of school acquire literacy skills they missed during the early acculturating years at home and in school AND
PREVENT: Ensure that children entering school learn to read and write in those early formative years.

How to eliminate illiteracy in relation to the culture of poverty?
Make sure all are encouraged to take advantage of public education.
Make sure all children have the opportunity to an education.
Improve special needs teaching and teachers.
Enhance a proactive attitude among the impoverished and motivate them to take advantage of organizations aimed to help solve illiteracy.
Better advertising to attract and inform those to and about the organizations created to help.
Integrate the community in helping to encourage education rather than alienate the impoverished.

What about the lack of supplies, teachers, and salaries?
“People have to be placed on waiting lists because there is not enough funding available to create enough classes to help them learn” -Deveaux
There need to be more community efforts to raise money for books, training, and salaries such as your very own Foundations for Learning!

[1] Johnson, James N. Adults in Crisis: Illiteracy in America. Prepared for the National Adult Literacy Project. Washington, DC: National Institute Of Education, 1985.
[2] Begin to Read. “Literacy Statistics.” http://www.begintoread.com/research/literacystatistics.html (accessed October 8, 2009)