Spare_change
Gold Member
- Jun 27, 2011
- 8,690
- 1,293
- 280
On the radio today, I heard an "expert" say that one of the things prison planners use is 4th grade literacy scores to determine the need for future prison space. That struck me as strange, so I started researching it.
------------------------------------------------
The One World Literacy Foundation has found that 2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. The 4th grade is the watershed year. We can predict that if a child is not reading proficiently in the 4th grade, he or she will have approximately a 78% chance of not catching up.
According to the literacy fast facts (Link Last 3 Words Here) Fast Facts from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) , literacy is defined as "using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential."
Illteracy Statistics
----------------------------------------------------
While there's no concrete proof that the statement is true, it does seem to have a lot of merit.
-------------------------------------------
It seems that 72% of children in the 4th grade that can't read at the 4th grade level will end up either in prison or on welfare.
Further, 85% of all juveniles who interface with the court system are functionally illiterate.Literacy Statistics
----------------------------------------------------------
Other statistics:
As many as 23% of the adult American population (40-44 million) is functionally illiterate (Level 1 according to the National Adult Literacy Survey), lacking basic skills beyond a fourth-grade level.
Statistics - Read All About It
So, the question is: why aren't we more focused on reading skills? Why does this happen? How can so many children fall behind in such a short period of time? Do our schools need to focus more on the three R's, and less on social skills education?
Have we found the secret weapon to combat crime and poverty?
------------------------------------------------
The One World Literacy Foundation has found that 2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. The 4th grade is the watershed year. We can predict that if a child is not reading proficiently in the 4th grade, he or she will have approximately a 78% chance of not catching up.
According to the literacy fast facts (Link Last 3 Words Here) Fast Facts from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) , literacy is defined as "using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential."
Illteracy Statistics
----------------------------------------------------
While there's no concrete proof that the statement is true, it does seem to have a lot of merit.
-------------------------------------------
It seems that 72% of children in the 4th grade that can't read at the 4th grade level will end up either in prison or on welfare.
Further, 85% of all juveniles who interface with the court system are functionally illiterate.Literacy Statistics
----------------------------------------------------------
Other statistics:
- Thirty-three percent of 4th grade public school students are at or below the “Basic” level on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading tests.
- Twenty-six percent of 8th grade public school students performed at or below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test (NCES, 2009).
- Among 4th graders, 53 percent of African American students, 52 percent of Hispanic students, and 48 percent of American Indian students scored below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test.
- Among 8th graders, 44 percent of African American students, 41 percent of Hispanic students, and 37 percent of American Indian students scored below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test (NCES, 2009).
- Forty-nine percent of 4th graders eligible for free and reduced-price meals finished below “Basic” on the NAEP reading test.
- Forty percent of 8th graders eligible for free and reduced-price meals scored below “Basic” on the NAEP reading test (NCES, 2009).
- The number of high school seniors who read at or above “Proficient” has been declining since 1992, according to the NAEP reading test (NCES, 2002).
As many as 23% of the adult American population (40-44 million) is functionally illiterate (Level 1 according to the National Adult Literacy Survey), lacking basic skills beyond a fourth-grade level.
Statistics - Read All About It
So, the question is: why aren't we more focused on reading skills? Why does this happen? How can so many children fall behind in such a short period of time? Do our schools need to focus more on the three R's, and less on social skills education?
Have we found the secret weapon to combat crime and poverty?