More than one of every three D.C. residents is functionally illiterate, according to a report released last month by the University of the District of Columbia.
The study, which was conducted by UDC's State Education Agency for Adult Education and Family Literacy, analyzes data from a national literacy survey in 1992 and the 2000 Census. The agency is tasked with managing D.C.'s citywide literacy initiative, which receives funds from the city government. The report pinpoints specific areas of the District that had severe literacy problems.
Wards 5, 7 and 8 had the highest functional illiteracy rates, which stand at approximately 50 percent. The national average for functional illiteracy is 25 percent. GW is in Ward 2.
Functional illiteracy is defined as having "below basic" literary skills, which means the person "can perform no more than the most simple and concrete literacy skills," according to the report. Examples of simple literacy skill are finding an intersection on a map, completing a job application, or reading bus schedules.
Stacey Downey, the agency's Literary Resource Center director, said only 8 percent of illiterate residents actually receive the proper education.
"The report ... was meant to be a provocative call to action for the District of Columbia to take a more comprehensive look at adult and family literacy," Downey said. "We have to provoke public discussion in order to get something done about this problem."
Downey added that the social stigmas surrounding illiteracy and the daily responsibilities of adulthood prevent a lot of people from seeking education. The literacy programs, she said, are also under-funded.
"(T)he lack of availability of many of these programs definitely contributes to the problem," she said.
Since the data was originally released in 1992, Downey said her agency has recruited and trained 20 new literacy coaches and instituted programs for building learning capacity.
The study, which was conducted by UDC's State Education Agency for Adult Education and Family Literacy, analyzes data from a national literacy survey in 1992 and the 2000 Census. The agency is tasked with managing D.C.'s citywide literacy initiative, which receives funds from the city government. The report pinpoints specific areas of the District that had severe literacy problems.
Wards 5, 7 and 8 had the highest functional illiteracy rates, which stand at approximately 50 percent. The national average for functional illiteracy is 25 percent. GW is in Ward 2.
Functional illiteracy is defined as having "below basic" literary skills, which means the person "can perform no more than the most simple and concrete literacy skills," according to the report. Examples of simple literacy skill are finding an intersection on a map, completing a job application, or reading bus schedules.
Stacey Downey, the agency's Literary Resource Center director, said only 8 percent of illiterate residents actually receive the proper education.
"The report ... was meant to be a provocative call to action for the District of Columbia to take a more comprehensive look at adult and family literacy," Downey said. "We have to provoke public discussion in order to get something done about this problem."
Downey added that the social stigmas surrounding illiteracy and the daily responsibilities of adulthood prevent a lot of people from seeking education. The literacy programs, she said, are also under-funded.
"(T)he lack of availability of many of these programs definitely contributes to the problem," she said.
Since the data was originally released in 1992, Downey said her agency has recruited and trained 20 new literacy coaches and instituted programs for building learning capacity.
