STATISTICS

Reasons we should all continually advocate for literacy in our communities:

TO HELP OUR YOUTH

Youth of color have lower test scores on national and statewide exams than their white counterparts. [1]

TO ERADICATE INCOME DISPARITY

The Median Income for white Minnesotans is $68,530 versus $38,183 for Black Minnesotans. [4]

EDUCATION DIRECTLY IMPACTS

COMMUNITY ECONOMICS

Poverty rates were highest for those who are American Indian (34%), Black (27%), and Hispanic (19%), three to four times higher than the rates of Non-Hispanic White Minnesotans (7%). [2]

ADULT ILLITERACY IS PREVALENT

In the United States, more than 3 million adults are at or below the 3rd grade level in reading and writing. [5]

LOWER LITERACY LEVELS

ARE CORRELATED WITH HIGHER POVERTY LEVELS

Of adults with the lowest literacy levels, 43 percent live in poverty, and 70% of adult welfare recipients have low literacy levels. [3]

TO INCREASE ACCESS TO

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Youth of color are less likely to receive Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). [6]

SOURCES:

[1] [Ebook]. "Racial Justice and Standardized Educational Testing" in PDF. Retrieved September 12, 2020, from https://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/racial_justice_and_testing_12-10.pdf

[2] Data by Topic - Income & Poverty / MN State Demographic Center. Retrieved September 12, 2020, from https://mn.gov/admin/demography/data-by-topic/income-poverty/

[3] Adult Literacy Facts | ProLiteracy. Retrieved September 12, 2020, from https://proliteracy.org/Adult-Literacy-Facts

[4] Data by Topic - Income & Poverty / MN State Demographic Center. Retrieved September 12, 2020, from https://mn.gov/admin/demography/data-by-topic/income-poverty/

[5] Adult Literacy Facts | ProLiteracy. Retrieved September 12, 2020, from https://proliteracy.org/Adult-Literacy-Facts

[6] https://www.wilder.org/sites/default/files/imports/EarlyChildhoodMN_Disparities_6-09.pdf