Do you remember learning to read? What would your life be like if you’d never had that opportunity?
Many of the students in our B5 classes are learning to read for the first time, or never really mastered reading when they were learning English. According to the Barbara Bush Foundation, 19% of adults in Benton County and 37% in Franklin County have low literacy skills, limiting their access to employment, education, and economic mobility. This helps explain why 13.4% of adults in Benton and Franklin counties have not completed a high school diploma or GED, almost double the state rate of 7.7% (Benton-Franklin Trends).
Adults with low literacy skills don’t see themselves as learners and often give up trying. Language learning and literacy go hand in hand, and learning to read in a language that is unfamiliar is even more challenging for adults than it is for kids. For this reason, a safe, encouraging environment is important to keep students working toward their goals.
At B5, we’re thankful for staff and volunteers who work diligently and persistently with students to help them on the road to success. They are equipping our students with the skills they need to become citizens, complete job applications, and get better paying jobs.
In the past, most of our students were new arrival refugees, and B5 received state funding to support them on their educational journey. Today, fewer than half of our students qualify for state funded support. More than ever, we look to our community to join us in the work by volunteering and investing in our students.
