It’s amazing to think that spending 45 minutes a week with a child can change their lives so profoundly. Yet, we hear this from parents and teachers every year. Besides learning to read, these kids benefit immensely from having another consistent adult role model in their life. Together, these two key advantages give them a chance at a better future and all of us a chance at a better world. Are we sounding a bit grandiose? Well, we do admit to being big dreamers, but after you read a few of the following statistics, you might just find yourself dreaming about what a difference you could make. A Few Facts About Literacy The Numbers: • Approximately 40 million American adults are functioning at the lowest level of literacy. • An estimated 400,000 people in Washington State are functionally illiterate. • Over 1 million adults in Washington State have low-level literacy skills. • Over 74,000 adults in Pierce County need basic skills instruction. • Approximately 2,000 children need tutors in Tacoma. The Percentages: • Only one child in eight will learn how to read if they haven’t done so by the end of the third grade. • In 1999, 38% of children living in families in poverty were read to everyday compared to 58% of children living above poverty. • 61% of families living at or below the poverty level don’t have books in the home. • 51% of Washington State adults who have completed high school or have received a GED certificate perform at the lowest level of the literacy scale. • 85% of juvenile offenders have reading problems. • Seven in ten adult prisoners perform in the lowest two levels of literacy. • Roughly 50% of youths with a history of substance abuse have a reading problem. Changing The Numbers One Child At A Time According to the National Research Council, the majority of reading problems faced by today’s adolescents and adults can be avoided or resolved in the early years of childhood. By simply learning to read before the end of the third grade a child’s success in the classroom improves along with their confidence and self-esteem, all of which have been linked to greater success in later life. We’re hoping that will mean fewer children ending up in the criminal justice system or turning to substance abuse.