More than 36 million American adults struggle to read, write, do math, or use technology above a third grade level. A recent Program for the International Assessment of Adult Literacy (PIAAC) study examined the United States and 23 other industrialized countries and found:
• When comparing mean literacy scores, the U.S. ranks 16th out of 24 countries.
• Only 12% of U.S. adults performed at the highest proficiency level on standard literacy tests.
• Only 9% of U.S. adults performed at the highest proficiency level on standard numeracy tests.
• Only 6% of U.S. adults performed at the highest proficiency level on the problem-solving/technology scale.
While these statistics may seem grim, there is good news! Every day, TLP helps adults who live or work in Tompkins County improve their reading, writing, English language, math, and computer skills. Are you interested in learning more about adult literacy or about how you can support our students and organization by making a donation or volunteering? Please use our contact page to drop us a line. We look forward to hearing from you!