The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL)

The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), conducted by the American Institute for Research and released by the National Center for Education Statistics in December 2005, described the literacy skills of adults in the U.S. The NAAL report defined literacy as: using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve goals, and to develop knowledge and potential.

According to the survey, approximately 11 million adults are Non-literate in English; that is, their English proficiency is so limited, they could not take the assessment test. These adults are assumed to be immigrants whose first language is not English.

The report estimated another 30 million adults have Below Basic Literacy skills; that is, they can speak some English and perform simple literacy tasks such as adding up a deposit slip or signing a form, but cannot perform more complex literacy tasks such as comparing event ticket prices or completing an order supply form consistently. These adults are most likely to live in poverty and have complicated health problems, and are not likely to participate fully in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

The report estimated that an additional 63 million adults have Basic Literacy skills; that is, they can perform incrementally more complex literacy tasks-like locating specific information in a television guide consistently, but do not have the skills required by an increasingly complex and technology-driven workplace.

Taken altogether, the NAAL report indicated that up to 93 million adults in the U.S. would benefit from additional literacy instruction.

Click here for talking points to use when discussing the NAAL with the media or policymakers.

Click here for a summary of the key points in the study.

Click here for a presentation on the NAAL health literacy findings.

Click here to read the NAAL reports and related information: http://nces.ed.gov/naal/