UNC-TV ONLINE:ORPGM: Literacy

Nearly one quarter of North Carolina adults cannot fill out an application for a Social Security card. Neither can they identify more than one piece of information in a sports article. Who are these adults? They are the 22% of North Carolinians at a Level 1 proficiency in literacy--the lowest rate of literacy on a scale from 1 to 5. According to the 1997 National Adult Literacy Survey, North Carolina ranks in the bottom 11 states in terms of literacy, with 50% of adults performing at a Level 1 or 2 reading level. With a high rate of generational illiteracy in some of the more rural counties and a massive influx of non-English speakers, North Carolina schools and agencies are struggling to reach those at Levels 1 and 2 proficiencies. To support efforts of agencies such as the North Carolina Literacy Resource Center and the National Institute for Literacy to promote higher rates of literacy in the state, UNC-TV started a campaign on community literacy in September 2001.

According to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, literacy is "an individual's ability to read, write, speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual and in society." For its literacy campaign, UNC-TV is also adopting a broad vision for literacy, from family literacy to community literacy to financial literacy. While UNC-TV has always promoted "Learning for a Lifetime" with its educational programming and outreach projects, in September several of UNC-TV's regular programs will emphasize efforts in North Carolina to promote reading to children, adults and immigrants.

Specifically, UNC-TV's goal for literacy is to use telecommunications wisely and imaginatively to inform, educate, and enrich all North Caroliniansby providing literacy opportunities in two major areas:

Greater awareness of literacy issues, opportunities and challenges facing individuals, families and communities;

Broadcast and online services for the preschool through grade 12 community, for adults seeking greater competency in literacy skills, and for the teachers providing literacy instruction to students of all ages.








				UNC-TV's Literacy Initiative Nearly one quarter of North Carolina adults cannot fill out an application for a Social Security card. Neither can they identify more than one piece of information in a sports article. Who are these adults? They are the 22% of North Carolinians at a Level 1 proficiency in literacy--the lowest rate of literacy on a scale from 1 to 5. According to the 1997 National Adult Literacy Survey, North Carolina ranks in the bottom 11 states in terms of literacy, with 50% of adults performing at a Level 1 or 2 reading level. With a high rate of generational illiteracy in some of the more rural counties and a massive influx of non-English speakers, North Carolina schools and agencies are struggling to reach those at Levels 1 and 2 proficiencies. To support efforts of agencies such as the North Carolina Literacy Resource Center and the National Institute for Literacy to promote higher rates of literacy in the state, UNC-TV started a campaign on community literacy in September 2001. According to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, literacy is "an individual's ability to read, write, speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family of the individual and in society." For its literacy campaign, UNC-TV is also adopting a broad vision for literacy, from family literacy to community literacy to financial literacy. While UNC-TV has always promoted "Learning for a Lifetime" with its educational programming and outreach projects, in September several of UNC-TV's regular programs will emphasize efforts in North Carolina to promote reading to children, adults and immigrants. Specifically, UNC-TV's goal for literacy is to use telecommunications wisely and imaginatively to inform, educate, and enrich all North Caroliniansby providing literacy opportunities in two major areas: Greater awareness of literacy issues, opportunities and challenges facing individuals, families and communities; Broadcast and online services for the preschool through grade 12 community, for adults seeking greater competency in literacy skills, and for the teachers providing literacy instruction to students of all ages. General - Initiative for Children - Resources - First Book

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