2024-25 Update
In 2024, our 6th annual event featured insights from President & CEO Bob Paponetti, Vice President Laureen Atkins-Holliday, and researcher Alex Dorman from The Center for Community Solutions.
What We Found
Too many children and adults in Cuyahoga County are struggling with low literacy. Without strong reading and writing skills, it’s harder to succeed in school, get a job, or support your family.
Here’s what the data tells us:
Cuyahoga County Literacy Landscape (2023-24 ODEW Data)
- Kindergarten readiness: 65% of kindergarteners are not on track to read at grade level.
- 3rd grade reading: 36% of students are not considered proficient.
- High school graduation: 11% of students fail to graduate within four years.
- Adult literacy: 54% of adults are not proficient readers (2020 PIAAC); 9% lack a high school diploma (2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates).
Be Part of the Solution:
- Enroll more children in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
- Connect adults to free education through Ohio Aspire
- Make sure adult education leads to career training
- Add literacy and math refreshers to all job training programs
- Join the Side-by-Side Literacy Network by emailing reading@literacycooperative.org
