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What is the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL)? 2 Assessment of the English literacy of U.S. adults Last conducted in 1992 Nationally representative sample of more than 19,000 adults age 16 and older One-on-one administration in households and prisons

Using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential What is NAAL’s Definition of Literacy? 3

Three Types of Literacy Prose 4 DocumentQuantitative

Descriptions of Literacy Levels 5 Proficientcan perform complex and challenging literacy activities Intermediatecan perform moderately challenging literacy activities Basiccan perform simple everyday literacy activities Below Basicno more than the most simple and concrete literacy skills

6 Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy

Change in Literacy: 1992–2003 No significant change in prose and document literacy Increase in quantitative literacy 7 * Significantly different from Note: Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households or prisons. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003 and 4 percent in 1992) are excluded from this figure. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey and 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

Prose Below Basic and Nonliterate in English Levels:

Percentage by Level: 1992– * Significantly different from Note: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households or prisons. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003 and 4 percent in 1992) are excluded from this figure. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey and 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

Number of Adults in Each Prose Literacy Level: * Significantly different from Note: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households or prisons. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003 and 4 percent in 1992) are excluded from this figure. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey and 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

Who is Below Basic in Prose Literacy? 11

Prose Literacy by Race/Ethnicity: 1992– * Significantly different from Note: Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households or prisons. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003 and 4 percent in 1992) are excluded from this figure. In 1992, respondents were allowed to identify only one race. In 2003, respondents were allowed to identify multiple races. In 2003, 2 percent of respondents identified multiple races and are not included in the White, Black, or Asian/Pacific Islander categories in this figure. All adults of Hispanic origin are classified as Hispanic, regardless of race. The Asian/Pacific Islander category includes Native Hawaiians. Total includes White, Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Multiracial/Other. Although not reported separately, American Indians/Native Alaskans are included. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey and 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

Race/Ethnicity: 1992– White Adults Up 9 points in quantitative Black Adults Up 6 points in prose Up 8 points in document Up 16 points in quantitative Hispanic Adults Down 18 points in prose Down 14 points in document Asian/Pacific Islander Adults Up 16 points in prose

Gender: 1992– * Significantly different from NOTE: Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households or prisons. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003 and 4 percent in 1992) are excluded from this figure. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey and 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

Age Cohorts: 1992–2003 Adults in the oldest age cohort had the lowest literacy both years Literacy increased among age cohorts 25-39, 50-64, and *Significantly different from Note: Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households or prisons. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003 and 4 percent in 1992) are excluded from this figure. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey and 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

Prose Literacy by Educational Attainment: NOTE: Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households or prisons. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003 and 4 percent in 1992) are excluded from this table. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

Educational Attainment: 1992—2003 Less than or some high school Down 9 points in prose High School graduate Down 6 points in prose College graduate Down 11 points in prose Down 14 points in document Graduate studies/degree Down 13 points in prose Down 17 points in document 17

Employment and Earnings: NOTE: Adults are defined as people 16 years of age and older living in households. Adults who could not be interviewed due to language spoken or cognitive or mental disabilities (3 percent in 2003) are excluded from this table. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy.

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