"According to federal data, 24 percent of New York adults are at the lowest levels of literacy, defined by the advocacy organization Literacy New York as being either functionally illiterate (reading below a fifth grade level), lacking a high school diploma, or being unable to speak English. That same data shows Brooklyn and Queens rates are roughly ten percent higher than the state average, and in the Bronx, a whopping 50 percent of adults do not have basic literacy skills."
"Several years ago, BronxWorks partnered with a local community college to place residents in a free solar panel installation program, the first step towards a good paying career. We had tremendous interest in the program, but unfortunately our clients who signed up dropped out due to how challenging the course was. They could not keep up with the literacy or math skills required to complete the course, nor did we have the resources to get them up to speed."
"The solution to this crisis needs to be addressed in the K-12 public school system. City and state leaders must put a renewed focus on trade and vocational education, expanding these valuable curriculums in schools across the five boroughs. Educators should partner with industry and labor leaders to fine tune curriculum to ensure that students have the correct skills for careers after graduation."
Adult literacy and numeracy in New York have reached crisis levels, with 24 percent of adults at the lowest literacy levels and much higher rates in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Nearly half of Brooklyn adults and two-thirds of Bronx adults cannot perform basic math. Millions lack basic skills needed for employment. Workforce training programs, including a BronxWorks solar panel installation course, saw participants drop out because of inadequate literacy and math. Addressing the problem requires K-12 reforms that expand trade and vocational education across the five boroughs. Educators should partner with industry and labor to align curricula with career skill needs.
Read at www.amny.com
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