New York State has included $7.8M in this year's budget to support community-based adult literacy programs. This funding goes to local organizations across the state as they work to provide their community members with vital adult literacy skills. Reading, math, English language learning, digital literacy, employability, citizenship preparation, and more-- these are the skills that help people reach their full potential as individuals, parents, workers, and citizens. Literacy New York thanks the legislators who recognize the value of adult literacy instruction and included this funding in this year's spending plan. This funding helps.

However, 1.6M adult New Yorkers lack their high school diplomas, 1.8M do not speak English well, and state funding is currently serving fewer than 3% of these 3.4 million adults. Adult literacy education is the key to helping adults become self-sufficient, tax paying members of their neighborhoods, towns, and cities, building local economies, and strengthening New York State. We need to continue to Advance Adult Literacy, and meet the needs of adult students.