Working to Improve the Literacy of South Carolinians

The Education Committee of the South Carolina Grantmakers Network is mindful of the fact that 15% of South Carolinians (465,000) cannot read. In addition, South Carolina has the highest high school drop-out rate in the nation and the second highest unemployment rate. These grim statistics all point to the fact that there is a distinct need for family literacy improvement in the Palmetto state.

• Illiteracy keeps people in poverty
• Health-care costs are four times higher for illiterate people
• Children of illiterate parents have more trouble in school
• Business and industry consider significant illiteracy a reason not to move to a community

The Education Committee is searching for ways to effectively support statewide literacy efforts in their various communities first by studying programs that are already working in certain areas of the state. Because many foundations are geographically specific, it seems logical to explore the possibility of partnering with groups that are present in each of the 46 counties such as public schools or public libraries. Specific steps have yet to be identified on how to move forward with a literacy initiative.

Members of the Education Committee include: