Table of Contents

Preface

Executive summary

Introduction

Chapter 1 Ten benchmarks for assessing literacy in North America

Chapter 2 Ten targets and tools for improving literacy in North America

Chapter 3 Policy implications

Annex A National scores and standard errors

Annex B Data sources and methodology

Annex C References and suggested further reading

Annex D About the author

List of figures

1. Figure 1 Literacy proficiency of youth population
2. Figure 2 Literacy proficiency of recent high school dropouts
3. Figure 3 Literacy proficiency of recent college graduates
4. Figure 4 Inequality in literacy proficiency among youth
5. Figure 5 Literacy proficiency of adult population
6. Figure 6 Literacy proficiency among adults in the top 25 percent
7. Figure 7 Literacy proficiency among adults in the bottom 25 percent
8. Figure 8 Inequality in literacy proficiency among adults
9. Figure 9 Percent of poor literacy proficiency among adults aged 45-65
10. Figure 10 Percent with poor literacy proficiency among second-language foreign-born population