September 8, 2015
Every Day is Literacy Day at ACS
Today is International Literacy Day – and as we reflect on the importance of literacy to the careers, quality of life, and future to the individuals our clients serve, ACS continues to prioritize early childhood education and K-12 education in our work.
The Center for Community Solutions published an infographic this morning showcasing the need for continued attention to literacy in Ohio:
1. 1 in 11 Ohioans aged 25+ lack basic prose literacy
2. 1 out of 9 Ohio adults do not have a HS diploma
3. 45% of Ohioans below basic literacy have completed high school or received a GED
As we know, high-quality early childhood education is an essential component to preparing a child to succeed in school, and in life. Many studies have shown that students who attend high-quality preschool score better on their 3rd grade reading tests, and are more likely to graduate high school. Through our work with PRE4CLE, ACS has helped build a roadmap that will bring voluntary high-quality preschool to 3- and 4-year-olds in the City of Cleveland. ACS continues to support making this plan a reality by helping PRE4CLE build the communication infrastructure and strategic approach to inform families, providers, policymakers and the community about the importance of high-quality preschool as well as engage policymakers on the local, state, and federal levels to support early education.
We know that in addition to high-quality early education, quality K-12 education is just as essential to improving literacy in the state. That’s why ACS works closely with the eight largest school districts in Ohio through The Ohio 8 Coalition to advocate for policies that lead to better school outcomes for all of Ohio’s students.
Please join us in celebrating International Literacy Day as we continue our efforts to raise awareness about critical building blocks for learning.