Literacy Stats

If you would like to purchase books from our wish list to give to kids through Literacy in the Bag, click here.

Why is literacy our passion?

Simply put, every child needs a chance.

Literacy is an essential element to a child’s development and can open doors to a bright future, further than education, into the business world as well. The Literacy Project shows 45 million Americans are functionally illiterate, meaning they cannot read above a 5th grade level. In addition, 50% of adults cannot read a book written at an 8th grade level. 

Where does it start?

Researchers say the cognitive process begins very early and reading aloud to your children is key. By age 3, roughly 85% of the brain is developed, but traditional education doesn’t begin until kindergarten.

How do you get a child to read?

One study of 100,000 school-age children shows simply having access to printed materials was key to reading acquisition. But a large problem is the availability of books in low-income homes. The National Center for Education Statistics cites 61% of low-income families have no books for their children to read.