THE LITERACY CHALLENGES IN NOBLE COUNTY
Federal Definition of Literacy: The ability to read, write, and speak in English, compute and solve problems, at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual, and in society.
In Noble County, 44% of adults function at the two lowest levels of literacy (out of five) (National Adult Literacy Survey)
The greatest predictor of a child’s level of education attainment is that of his or her parent, especially the mother (US Department of Education)
48% of Noble County 3rd Graders did not pass the ISTEP+ in both English and Math in 2006 (Indiana Department of Education)
Graduation rates in each of Noble County’s three public school corporations trailed the state average in 2005-2006
The combined graduation rate of Noble County’s three public schools in 2005-2006 was 76% meaning nearly one out of every four students did not finish high school
More than 30% (149 students) who graduated in 2005-2006 do not intend to pursue a college education
22.7% of adults ages 25 and over in Noble County do not have a high school diploma or a GED (US Census 2000)
Among those, 35% (2,299) have less than a ninth grade education
In 1990 Noble County ranked 60th among Indiana’s 92 counties in the number of adults ages 25+ without a high school diploma. By 2000, Noble County’s ranking had fallen to 76th (US Census 2000)
Noble County’s Hispanic population grew by 428% between 1990-2000 and now accounts for roughly 7% of the county’s overall population (US Census 2000)
West Noble School Corporation hosts the second highest percentage of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students among Indiana’s school districts (Indiana DOE)
24.6% of Noble County’s Hispanic population lives below the poverty line (US Census 2000)
4,092 Noble County residents over the age of five (9.6%) report that they speak a language other than English in the home
Among those, 55% (2,237) report that they speak English 'less than very well'
The number of families receiving food stamps in Noble County (932) in 2006 represented a 15% increase since 2003
Between June 2000-June 2002, the average number of monthly TANF recipients grew by 220% in Noble County (STATS Indiana)
48% of Noble County’s workers are employed in low skill labor jobs
12 of the top 20 skills in demand by employers in Noble County are skills developed in literacy programs (Indiana Workforce Development)
Real earnings for men without a high school credential declined 28% from 1979 to 1995
ANSWERING THE LITERACY CHALLENGE IN NOBLE COUNTY
In 2006-2007, LEAP of Noble County, Inc. served 1,269 students in education programs throughout Noble County
67% of adults enrolled in LEAP of Noble County, Inc. programs are employed
44% of adult students left school between 8th and 11th grade
96% of LEAP adult students working toward a GED demonstrated growth
95% of LEAP of Noble County, Inc.’s English as a New Language students demonstrated growth in reading or listening comprehension
LEAP of Noble County, Inc. and its partners served 1,181 children in the New DAWN 21st Century Community Learning Center program between 2003-2007
School age children served at the Noble County Learning Center hail from all three county school corporations, as well as private schools, home schools, and other county schools (Dekalb, LaGrange, and Smith-Green)
85% of school-age children at the Noble County Learning Center demonstrated academic growth
WHY LITERACY MATTERS
According to the May 2001 issue of Training, "literacy problems cost U.S. companies $60 billion annually in lost productivity"
70% of all people entering state correctional facilities have not completed high school and 14% have no high school education at all (US DOJ)
Increasing workers' literacy level by one year was found to increase productivity by an average of 11% (National Institute for Literacy)
When adults improve their literacy skills, children have fewer nutrition and health problems, drop out of school less, have fewer teen pregnancies, less joblessness, and less social alienation (Padak and Rasinski)
ADULT LITERACY IS ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH
Lack of skills exacts a personal cost beyond calculation. We can, however, measure the crushing cost of low literacy to our society:
90% of Fortune 100 companies expressed concern that low literacy levels were limiting their productivity and profitability.
Literacy problems cost U.S. companies $60 billion annually in lost productivity.
According to the national Association of Manufacturers Skills Gas 2005 survey, 81% of manufacturers are experiencing moderate to severe shortages of qualified job candidates
36% of companies report that poor reading and writing skills among hourly workers are a problem.
55% of manufactures surveyed said a basic lack of employability skills (attendance, timeliness, work ethic, etc.) is the most serious deficiency among job applicants 51% cited math and science skills and 38% identified reading and comprehension.
According to the International Adult Literacy Survey, 52% of high school graduates lack the skills required to do their jobs adequately
60.5% of applicants with a high school diploma or GED are poorly prepared for a typical entry level manufacturing job.
Set these stark statistics against the encouraging fact that increasing workers’ literacy level by one year was found to increase productivity by an average of
