Low literacy levels show a strong correlation with poverty, crime and unemployment. (DropOutPrevention.org)
The same report shows that literacy skills also have a strong impact on wider social outcomes: «adults in England with low literacy levels have twice the odds of reporting low levels of trust as their peers with high literacy, and three times the odds of reporting poor health». (educationbusinessuk.net)
In fact, as Stanford University Researchers Deborah Stipek and Sarah Miles determined in a 2006 study, low literacy levels in first grade are strong predictors of disciplinary problems by third; the kids, struggling to learn, but unable to (and fearful) of admitting their issues, simply act out instead. (dropoutnation.net)