Labette Community College Adult Education Center Celebrates Annual Adult Education and Family Literacy Week

Every year, the National Coalition for Literacy (on behalf of the adult literacy and basic education field) requests that Congress recognize one week as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. This year, that week is September 17–23, 2023. The goal of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week is to work side-by-side in every state, territory, and district to heighten public awareness, strengthen alliances, leverage resources, and increase the number of people who understand the vital role adult education and family literacy plays in our nation’s well-being.

Why Adult Education is important according to Proliteracy.org:

• More than 43 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third-grade level.
• Bringing all adults to the equivalent of a sixth-grade reading level would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income for the country.
• The U.S. has the world’s largest immigrant population, accounting for one-fifth of the world’s immigrants.
• Among immigrants, only half (53%) are proficient English speakers.
• Workers who have less education than a high school diplomas have the lowest median weekly earnings ($592), three times less than the highest level of education.
• 75% of state incarcerated individuals did not complete high school or can be classified as low literate.
• Incarcerated individuals who participate in correctional education programs are 43% less like to regress than inmates who do not.

What Is Adult Education?
You may think of adult education as learning to read, write, speak English, or do math. It is all those things, and more. Adult Education is also developing digital skills, studying to become a citizen, or gaining skills to find a job or start a career. It is learning about health, money management, and how to support children’s’ learning.

Why Is It Needed?
Over 43 million adults in the U.S. cannot read above a 3rd grade level, and nearly 63 million cannot do 4th grade math. One in five adults have trouble reading communications from their children’s teachers. One in three adults have difficulty creating a household budget. One in four adults have trouble navigating websites and using digital tools at work. And among immigrants, only half are proficient in English.

Who Benefits?
Everyone! Adult education is a vital contributor to the strength and resilience of every community. Support for adult education is an investment that returns far more than it costs. Adults who participate in adult education programs have higher incomes, resulting in more spending and higher tax revenue for their community

How Can You Be Part of the Solution?

• Contact local, state, and federal elected officials to advocate for adult education funding
• Support adult education programs in your community by donating or by volunteering
• Urge local businesses and employers to invest in adult education and workforce preparation

For more information, please contact: Labette Community College, Adult Education at 620-820-1182 or email karenb@labette.edu for more information.