There are many reasons why literacy matters, but let me pick one or two. First of all, some of you may have read in the newspaper earlier this week that the US lost some 385,000 manufacturing jobs last year - but at the same time we gained three million new jobs in advanced sectors such as computer programming and management consulting. What this means is that the American job market is beginning to offer higher-paying positions but also demanding higher skill levels from workers. To help our workers keep up with this demand, a good education based on sound literacy skills is more important than ever. Another reason why literacy matters is because I believe, and the experts will tell you, that if more people could read, write and comprehend, we'd be much closer to solving many of the serious problems that we face today - such as teen pregnancies, drug abuse, and violent crime.
Literacy can change lives.
I know this is true. Like many of you, I've seen it happen. Still, people always ask why I chose to focus specifically on family literacy - and the reason is simple. First, studies have shown that the education level of the parent is the single most important factor determining a child's success in school. Moreover, experts have found that the most important thing parents can do to prepare their children for success in school is to read to them - early and often.