Functional literacy is defined by the National Literacy Act of 1991 as an "individual's ability to read, write and speak 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."

National Literacy

The National Adult Literacy Survey commissioned by the US Department of Education, found that, using five levels of literacy proficiency, 47 to 51 percent of adults in the US scored in the lower range - they could not use the written word to accomplish

many everyday tasks such as finding a fact or two in a newspaper article, calculating a tip on a bill, or finding information on a Social Security form.

Local Literacy Information

In North Carolina, it is estimated that 52% of the population is functioning at the two lowest levels of literacy proficiency.  In Brunswick County 55% of the adult population falls in this range (24% scored in level one, 31% scored in level two).

"A literate person is not only an illiterate person who has learned to read and write, he is another person.  He is different.  To promote literacy is to change man's conscience by changing his environment.  It is an undertaking on

the same plane as the recognition and incarnation of human rights."  

                                Frank C. Laubach, Founder, Laubach Literacy International