Welcome
Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties
Education that empowers adults, strengthens families, and drives lasting intergenerational and community change.
WHY OUR LITERACY WORK MATTERS
One in four adults in Bowie and Miller Counties, about 25,000 residents, reads at or below a Level 1. Adults at this level can often recognize words but may struggle to understand short passages, follow written directions, or complete everyday forms without help. These challenges do not reflect a lack of intelligence or effort. Many adults never received effective reading instruction, faced interruptions in schooling, lived through generational poverty, or had undiagnosed learning differences that went unsupported. When reading feels difficult, everything from applying for a job to managing healthcare becomes harder. Low literacy limits opportunity, reduces income, and creates barriers that often continue into the next generation. (Source)
Low literacy has serious economic and generational effects. Adults with the lowest literacy skills are far more likely to live in poverty and earn significantly less, and low literacy costs the United States an estimated 2.2 trillion dollars each year. Children of low-literacy parents also face a much higher risk of struggling in school.
These national trends directly affect our local workforce, family stability, and long-term growth. Improving literacy here strengthens our entire community, both now and for future generations. (Source)
According to a 2024 CEW report, roughly 72% of U.S. jobs will require post-secondary education or training by 2031. In Texas, middle-skill jobs make up 56 percent of the labor market, but only 42 percent of workers are prepared for them. Locally, 13 to 15 percent of adults do not have a high school diploma or GED, limiting access to stable, in-demand careers. When many residents lack the skills employers need, our economy feels the strain. Strengthening adult literacy is essential for filling workforce gaps and supporting long-term family and community stability. (Source)