In today's society, the ability to read and write is the gateway to a better life. The ability to read is the most powerful tool we have to reduce the prison population, increase opportunity, and build a better future for our children. If a person can't read, they are much more likely to find themselves in the criminal justice system. When people have access to the education they need to read, they are much less likely to find themselves in the criminal justice system.
When children grow up in homes where their mothers can read and write, they are more likely to succeed in school and earn college degrees. One of the most powerful ways to improve adult literacy is to ensure that children have parents who can read and write. Literacy is an equal opportunity topic, so we need to do a better job of educating women, especially women of color. This will help to close the educational gap between children from different backgrounds, which has a profound impact on a child's life outcomes.
"My mother's ability to read and write had a profound impact on my life. It affected my ability to read, which in turn had a profound impact on my academic success. I would never have been able to complete high school and go on to college without my mother's ability to read and write. I was able to pursue a career in education in large part because I had access to my mother's ability to read and write.
In other words, my mother's ability to read and write was not only a powerful determinant of my success, it was also a gateway for me to help others succeed. The ability to read and write is a gateway for all of us to opportunity and prosperity. When we improve the literacy of women and girls, we improve their opportunities and their children's opportunities. This is one of the most powerful ways to reduce the racial and economic achievement gap."
Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72% chanced of being in the lowest reading levels themselves. The Literacy Coalition is committed to helping children succeed in school. We teach their parents to read and then support young families with our Reading Rabbits program that has given away $150K of children's books in the last five years.