2. Mary Shelton-Wiese, Executive Director 810-664-2737 ican@readlapeer.org

3. Family Literacy Center Mission Statement Building Skills and enriching lives through literacy in the Lapeer County area

4. What is Literacy? The ability to read, to write, to perform math computations, to understand the written word, to speak in one’s native language or in the language of one’s adopted homeland. David C. Harvey, President and CEO of ProLiteracy Worldwide

5. Why are literacy skills important?  Directly impacts an individual’s ability to support him or herself and family (employment, training)  Directly impacts the ability to maintain good health (access to health care)  Directly impacts the ability to raise well- educated children who will succeed in school and in the workplace

7.  Experts recommend that documents for the general public be written at the 7 th grade level. Documents about health, medical or safety should be written at the 5 th grade level.  Businesses and government web sites regularly present information written at the 12 th grade level and up reaching less than 15% of their intended audience. Reference is William H. DuBay, Plain Language Services

9. Literacy Facts  Having a High School Diploma does not necessarily mean you have good reading skills.  In 2007, 53% of the students at the Family Literacy Center had a 12 th grade education or higher. All read at or below an 8 th grade level.

10. We are all gifted,average or challenged depending on the task at hand.

11. Low-level literacy ~ WHY?  Learning Disabilities  Parents don’t read (no reading materials)  Family stress or instability, poor nutrition  Vision or hearing problems  Childhood illness  Changing schools frequently  Reading not a priority (TV, Video games)  Getting discouraged, told you can’t do it

12. Student Education Level at Intake

13. 2008 Student Accomplishments  12 students have passed the GED test  25 students were able to qualify for training  30 raised their reading level and 21 raised their math level (according to follow up TABE testing) Many student avoid follow up testing due to extreme test anxiety  14 found employment  12 had other accomplishments (passed college entrance tests, completed CNA, etc.)  Many students are still in our program working toward their goals and building their skills