The National Adult Literacy Survey found that over 40 million Americans, age 16 and older, have significant literacy needs.
Literacy affects many different aspects of society.
As the education level of adults improves, so does their children's success in school. Helping low-literate adults improve their basic skills has a direct and measurable impact on both the education and quality of life of their children. Children's literacy levels are strongly linked to the educational level of their parents, especially their mothers. Children of parents who are unemployed and have not completed high school are five times more likely to drop out than children of employed parents. Children of adults who participate in literacy programs improve their grades and test scores, improve their reading skills and are less likely to drop out.