Why is developing literacy skills in children so important?

Children who have not developed basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are three to four times more likely to drop out of school.

The single most significant factor influencing children’s early educational success is being read to at home.

61% of low income families have no books in their homes.

Children from middle class families experience 1,000 to 1,700 hours of one-on-one reading time before entering school, while children from low income families experience only 25 hours of one-on-one reading time before entering school.

50% of adult prisoners in state and federal prisons cannot read and write at all, and only 1/3 have completed high school. 

 Did you know that in Lebanon County....

• 41.5% of children under 5 live in low income families
• 21.9% of births are to mothers who have less than a high school education
• 22.4% of third graders scored below  the proficient level on the 2008 PSSA reading test
• 15% of the population of Lebanon County is illiterate.
• 15.5% of the population has an education beyond high school resulting in a bachelor’s degree or higher.