Literacy Facts and Figures
RHODE ISLAND ADULT EDUCATION: THE CASE FOR SUPPORT
Of all 50 states, Rhode Island's the gap between the poorest and wealthiest families has growth rapidly over the past two decades. Rhode Island is second in the nation for growth in income inequality and is ranked 12th in the nation for its income gap between the richest and poorest families (Study: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute, 4/08). This study makes the case for greater investment in workforce development initiatives as a means to help low-income Rhode Islanders gain the skills they need to advance in the workforce.
The 1999 report of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on RI Literacy found "significant low levels of adult literacy", stating further that, "economic growth and development requires high worker literacy levels". The skill shortage in Rhode Island, poses a serious long-term threat to the economic health of our state and quality of life for all Rhode Islanders.
The Rhode Island Economic Policy Council has long identified greater investment in local adult literacy programs as a key economic development strategy for our State. RIEPC advocates a "new approach to workforce development in Rhode Island that will require elevating literacy issues to the forefront of the education agenda and redirecting limited public resources to this effort".
Overview of Rhode Islanders needing Adult Education services:
According to data from the 2000 U.S. Census, there were slightly over 177,000 adults who make up the adult education target population in Rhode Island (i.e., they are sixteen and older, are not enrolled in school, and have no high school diploma and/or are limited English proficient).
More recent data suggest that there have been some important changes in the size and composition of the adult education target population since the 2000 U.S. Census. The target population is an estimated 148,871 according to the 2006 American Community Survey data instead of the estimated 177,298 according to 2000 U.S. Census Long Survey Form data.
Of these 148,871 adults:
• 102,025 have no high school diploma,
• 29,469 lack a high school credential and, in addition, are limited English proficient (i.e., they reported speaking no English at all or not speaking English well), and
• 17,377 adults possess at least a high school diploma but are limited English proficient.
This decline is thought to be due in part to deaths of older high school dropouts, people leaving the state, and – at least partially – due to an increase in the number of immigrants with more years of schooling.
It is further important to note that estimates by various agencies suggest that every year several thousand youth leave high school before graduating and that several thousand immigrants with limited English language skills enter Rhode Island.
It appears that one important group of very needy individuals includes the growing number of persons who are limited English proficient and lack a high school diploma. Many of these individuals with low English abilities also have low levels of formal education. This requires a very different approach than the approach used with limited English proficient individuals with higher levels of educational attainment and/or formal education.
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