Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.
By Hannah Schmid | Illinois Policy
One-fifth of Illinois adults are functionally illiterate, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That means they cannot understand the meaning of sentences, locate information on pages or complete simple forms, all of which would affect their abilities to hold many jobs.
In Cook County, 25% of adults are functionally illiterate.
Education is no guarantee of escaping or preventing poverty in Chicago, but research has shown the link between education and poverty. Poverty rates in Chicago drop with each level of educational attainment. Chicago’s high-school dropouts face poverty rates more than four times higher than their peers with bachelor’s degrees.
Research shows literacy is linked to income.
Literacy and income
According to a Barbara Bush Foundation report, income and adult literacy are strongly related. The report uses data from the U.S. Department of Education and an international assessment of adult skills called the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. The assessment sets Level 1 or lower as low literacy, also known as functional illiteracy.
Nationally, adults who meet the lowest levels of literacy proficiency on the assessment earn an income which is nearly $24,000 less than adults who reach the minimum level and can understand written text to participate in society and develop their potential.
Adult literacy in Illinois
The National Center for Education Statistics produced an analysis of literacy proficiency for adults aged 16-74 in all states and counties across the country.
One-quarter of Cook County adults scored at or below Level 1 on the literacy evaluation, meaning they are functionally illiterate. Cook County’s rate of illiteracy is statistically higher than the Illinois statewide percentage of 20%.
Cook County has the third-highest percentage of adults functionally illiterate among all Illinois counties, only trailing Alexander County with 35% of adults functionally illiterate and Pulaski County with 26%.
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Now the fact that Dems dominate our political class make more sense — they have taught the illiterate to know at lease one word so they can vote “properly>”