Nevada report links illiteracy to social ills

Friday, Sept. 11, 1998 | 10:50 a.m.

A literary task force, created by the Office of the Attorney General last May, determined that low literary skills directly correlate with long term imprisonment, unemployment, underemployment, poverty, welfare and crime.

The findings of the task force, comprised of 17 community leaders from the business community, the justice system and human service agencies in Nevada, were released at the second annual International Literacy Day Dinner Thursday night at the RIO hotel-casino.

The task force cited a Nevada Department of Prisons report that says 45.4 percent of incoming inmates scored below the eighth grade level of reading, spelling and math.

"Literacy directly impacts the quality of life in Nevada," said Vicki Newell, director for Literate Nevada Project, a coordinating partner of the task force.

Newell added that 163,000 adults in Nevada are in the lowest level of literary proficiency, meaning that it's difficult for them to fill out a job application, assist their children with homework or balance a checkbook.

Newell said the lack of financial resources is the biggest problem of adult literacy programs in Nevada. The current programs reach only 20,000 adult students per year, which is only 10 percent of the estimated need.

Other needs and recommendations focused on by the task force include: Expanding existing education programs in correctional facilities, providing more information of adult education programs to human service agencies, business and potential students in the community.

Providing information on illiteracy and adult education to Human Resource Associations and Resort Associations, including the Culinary Union, fast food franchisers and convenience store operators was also recommended.

The National Institute for Literacy 1998 estimates that 15.3 percent of Nevada's adult population is at the lowest level of proficiency, which requires skills as matching information and calculating simple one-step math problems.

Thursdays dinner was sponsored by the Las Vegas Chapter of the International Business Association of Business Communicators and Nevada Bell. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Southern Nevada Literacy Coalition.