The Crisis of Low Literacy

Brief Overview

Low literacy is at the very heart of many social ills. Without the ability to read, write and communicate, our children cannot succeed in school, adults cannot find and keep jobs that will sustain their families, and our city cannot compete effectively in the global economy. This translates to increased poverty for Buffalo, already ranked third poorest in the nation.

Consider these statistics:

• 30% of adults in the City of Buffalo – 65,000 people – read at or below a 5th grade level.
• 40% of children entering Kindergarten do not meet minimum benchmarks for language and literacy skills.
• 60% of 4th graders are not meeting New York State learning standards.
• 39% of children entering 9th grade drop out of school before graduating.

Without an improvement in literacy rates, it will be nearly impossible to reduce poverty rates in Buffalo. Without strong literacy skills, children cannot grow into productive, employable adults, and adults will not be able to obtain jobs that can lift their families out of poverty.