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Facts on Illiteracy in the Roanoke Valley and beyond
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| What is functional literacy? |
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According to the 1991 National Literacy Act, Congress defined literacy as:
an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one’s goals, and develop one’s knowledge and potential.
For example, a functionally illiterate adult is unable to fill out an employment application, follow written instructions, or read a newspaper. |
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| What is the scope of illiteracy in the Roanoke Valley and in the United States? |
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In 1993, the U.S. Department of Education released the most detailed portrait ever available on the condition of literacy in this nation. The National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) evaluated the skills of adults in three areas: prose, document, and quantitative proficiency. Results showed:
21%-23% of the U.S. adult population (40 to 44 million adults) is considered functionally illiterate.
In the City of Roanoke, 25% are considered functionally illiterate. In the City of Salem and Botetourt County the adult illiteracy rate is 14%. Roanoke County has a 13% adult illiteracy rate.
Although many adults can read at rudimentary levels, they need higher levels of literacy to function effectively in society, to find employment, or to be trained for new jobs as the workplace changes. |
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| Why is the illiteracy rate so high in the American-born adult population? |
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| The answers are as varied as the number of non-readers. The adult non-reader may have left school early, may have had a physical or emotional disability, may have had ineffective teachers or simply have been unready to learn at the time reading instruction began. Because they are unable to help their children learn, parents who can’t read often perpetuate the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy. Without books, newspapers, or magazines in the home and a parent who reads to serve as a role model, many children grow up with severe literacy deficiencies. Clearly, there is no single cause of illiteracy. |
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¨ What is Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley?
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Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley is the local affiliate of ProLiteracy America. Founded in 1985, Literacy Volunteers trains and supports volunteers to be tutors of adults in either basic literacy or English-for-Speakers-of-Other-Languages. Our service area includes Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Botetourt County, the City of Salem, and Craig County.
Each adult learner has his or her individual goals. We train the tutors to plan learner-centered lessons to help the learner achieve his or her goals. Examples of learner goals are: I want to read to my child; I want to be able to write memos to my boss; I want to speak English well enough to be understood when I go shopping.
Over 2,000 adult learners have received free tutoring by Literacy Volunteers trained tutors.
Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency. Our major funding sources include Virginia Department of Education, foundation and corporate grants, corporate and individual donations, local governments, and fundraising events. |
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