Ignite

It effects us all

THERE IS AN EPIDEMIC IN AMERICAThere is an epidemic in America

• Our Schools are in trouble.

It is estimated that the cost of illiteracy to business and the taxpayer is $20 billion per year.

Think its n

ot your

problem

• Approximately 50 percent of the nation's unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional illiterate, with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs.

60 PERCENT OF AMERICA'S PRISON INMATES ARE ILLITERATE AND 85% OF ALL JUVENILE OFFENDERS HAVE READING PROBLEMS.

More than 20 percent of adults read at or below a fifth-grade level - far below the level needed to earn a living wage.

How many people does this effect?

• 21 million Americans can't read at all, 45 million are marginally illiterate and one-fifth of high school graduates can't read their diplomas.

• It is estimated that more than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade because they have reading problems.

• Since 1983, more than 10 million Americans reached the 12th grade without having learned to read at a basic level. In the same period, more than 6 million Americans dropped out of high school altogether.

• 54 percent of all teachers have limited English proficient (LEP) students in their classrooms, yet only one-fifth of teachers feel very prepared to serve them.

Who’s fault i

s it?

• Can we afford to do nothing?

CAN PARENT INVOLVEMENT HELP?

• The evidence is in: when schools and families work together to support learning, everyone benefits.

• * Students do better in school and in life.

• * Parents become empowered.

• * Teacher morale improves.

• * Schools get better.

• * Communities grow stronger.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

•How does community involvement effect learning ?

Parent, family, and community involvement in education

correlates with higher academic performance and school improvement.

What's the answer??