FAST FACTS ABOUT
ADULT LITERACY IN WASHINGTON
WA SHINGTON STATE
STAT E
The Need for Adult Literacy, High School Completion, and ESL Instruction
In Washington, 571,000 adults, age 16 and older, do not have a high school diploma and are not enrolled
in school (1).
26% of Washington students who enter high school together in 9th grade will not graduate on time
with their class (2) .
260,000 Washington adults are limited English proficient (1). The actual number is likely much higher as some
limited English proficient populations may not have been aware of or able to understand the U.S. Census or were
afraid to check the box indicating that they spoke English “less than very well.”
In 2005, 51% of Washington employers had a hard time finding qualified applicants for openings, compared to
45% two years ago. Among those skills lacking in applicants were basic reading, writing, and math skills (3).
With current federal and state funding, only 5.4% of Washington’s population who could benefit from adult literacy
instruction and 12.2% who could benefit from English language instruction receive it (4).
35% of Washington adults function in the 2 lowest literacy levels
They typically can
They typically cannot
(5)
(6)
Answer personal questions in English, like their name, age, or
country of origin.
Carry on a complete conversation in English about a topic of
general interest.
Sign their names on a document.
Identify and provide the background information on a social
security card application.
Provide one piece of information on a new form, if it’s
Match two or more pieces of information on a form, like
something they already know like a social security number or a determining what benefits they will get from a table of benefits
birth date.
that is based on monthly pay.
For more information or to find a literacy program near you, contact us at:
www.literacyNOW.info or 1-888-444-5744
FAST FACTS ABOUT
ADULT LITERACY IN WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON STATE
STAT E
Effectiveness of
Instruction
The Federal Government has rated
the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (AEFL)--Title II of WIA)
EFFECTIVE in helping adults
become literate, get a secondary
school education, or learn English.
In rating AEFL effective, the
government stated that AEFL
programs “recruit, retain, and assist
more people from its target population
at a lower cost than other job
training programs” (7).
In 2004, the Federal
cost per high school
diploma or GED
attained by adults or
out-of-school youth
was $3,081,
compared to a
range of $12,000 to $90,000 for other
Federal job training programs.
The Impact on Wages of Providing Instruction
Research indicates that the greatest earning gains are made by
adults who take at least one year of college-level courses and
earn a vocational certificate (8).
English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education, and GED
preparation are important pathways for our state’s lowest skilled
workers to attain the skills necessary to attend college and increase
their wages. Because they start out with much lower skills, their
wage gains tend to be much greater.
Status of Adult Student Upon
Entering College
Average Annual Wage Increase
Upon Completing One Year of College
and a Vocational Certificate
Started as high school graduate
$1,700
Started as GED completer
$2,700
Started in Adult Basic Education or
GED preparatory classes
$8,500
Started in English as a Second
Language Classes
$7,000
Sources:
(1)
Profiles of the Adult Education Target Population: Information from the 2000 Census (Revised in December 2005).
Center for Research in Education, RTI International: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/index.html
(2)
High Skills, High Wages 2006. Washington State Workforce Training and Education Board: http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Pubs_Publications.asp
(3)
Washington State Employer’s Workforce Training Needs and Practices-2006. Washington State Workforce Training and Education Board:
http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Pubs_Publications.asp
(4)
From the 2004– 2005 enrollment records. State Board for Community and Technical Colleges: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/docs/education/abe/literacyoverview.pdf
(5)
Adult Literacy Estimates. Portland State University (1996): https://www.casas.org/lit/litcode/Search.cfm
Basic Education: Creating Opportunities for Washington’s Emerging Workforce (2006). Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges:
http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/_e-abe_creatingopportunities.aspx
(6) Adult
(7)
Program Assessment: Adult Education State Grants. U.S. Office of Management and Budget and Federal Agencies:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/summary/10000180.2006.html
(8)
The “Tipping Point” Study (April 2005). Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/d_basicskills.aspx
For more information or to find a literacy program near you, contact us at:
www.literacyNOW.info or 1-888-444-5744