ProLiteracy Calls for Adult Literacy Expert to be Appointed to Presidential Panel

Syracuse, NY
January 28, 2008

The president of ProLiteracy, the world’s largest organization of adult basic education and literacy programs, said he is pleased that President George Bush recognizes how important it is that citizens be financially literate, but David C. Harvey voiced his disappointment that the 19-member President’s Advisory Council on the subject does not take into account the needs of millions of adults who struggle to read, write, and do math and immigrants learning English as a second language.

“While ProLiteracy applauds the President for drawing attention to the problem of financial literacy and we recognize the expertise of the 19 members in the areas of personal financial management and educating high school and college students about financial matters, there is no one on the panel who understands the needs of people who cannot complete a job application, add simple amounts on a bank deposit slip, or compare prices of two different items in a grocery store” said Harvey, ProLiteracy president and CEO. “These are the people that ProLiteracy represents.”

In a letter to President Bush asking that a ProLiteracy representative be added to the Advisory Council, Harvey said the recent subprime mortgage crisis is evidence that the 30 million adults considered to be functionally illiterate need literacy education now.

“The people who run ProLiteracy’s member programs are telling me that adult learners are losing their homes because they didn’t understand how these adjustable rate mortgages worked,” Harvey said. “I’m sure there will be more stories like this as the economy suffers a turn for the worse.”

Harvey said the lack of adult literacy representation on the Financial Literacy Advisory Council is the second blow to come from Washington in recent weeks. “Congress recently cut federal funds to support programs that can help these individuals get the skills they need to be productive members of our nation’s workforce,” he said.

The 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy estimated that 30 million individuals over the age of 16 in the U.S. read so poorly that they can’t fill out a job application, understand a newspaper article, or follow the directions on a prescription label. Current federal and private funding covers instruction for just three million.

ProLiteracy is opening an office in Washington, DC and will pursue an aggressive Congressional outreach strategy in the months ahead, Harvey announced.

“We are going to make all policymakers aware that adult illiteracy in the U.S. is a very real issue that affects not only personal and public finances but also health care, public safety, and the availability of a skilled workforce,” Harvey said.