A new study reveals that the four counties of the Rio Grande Valley are all above the national average for illiteracy.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 19% of American adults cannot read a newspaper.
But the numbers are higher here in the Valley where 40 percent of Willacy County residents are considered illiterate.
Ad it gets worse from there. Illiteracy stands at about 43 percent for Cameron County residents.
The study show 50 percent in Hidalgo County and 60 percent in Starr County.
Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District is releasing a summer reading list to help its students:
http://www.hcisd.org/Page/6174
Literacy Facts from Healthy People 2010 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
* literacy = knowledge and skills needed to perform basic tasks needed to use texts
* Below Basic indicates no more than the most simple and concrete literacy skills.
Texas ranks 47th in terms of English literacy levels where 38.6 of Texans speak a language other than English at home.
Texas fell from 45th to last in the Nation of citizens over age 25 that have a GED/high school diploma
About 32.5% of the population 25 years or older in the 11 counties of South Texas have less than a 9th grade education.
According to the study, about 11.5% of Texans over age 25 have less than a ninth grade education.
Literacy Texas
http://www.literacytexas.org/index.php/resources/literacy_facts/
Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning
http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/docs/09illitmap.html
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