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PIAAC 2023 report reveals a shocking decline in U.S. adults’ literacy skills

The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), a large-scale study of adult cognitive skills conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), recently published the findings from its 2023 study, showing a significant decline in the literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills of U.S. adults. 

The report states that, in the U.S., 16- to 65-year-olds’ literacy scores declined by 12 points from 2017 to 2023, while their numeracy scores fell by 7 points during the same period. 

Further, the gap between the highest- and lowest-performing adults is growing wider, as the top scorers stay relatively the same and other test takers’ scores fall. 

The NCES did not provide a definitive cause for these staggering results, but Gina Berko Solomon, Executive Director of the Adult Literacy League, has her theories. The Adult Literacy League is a non-profit organization in Central Florida that teaches adults, much like the ones who scored the lowest on the PIAAC, how to read, write and speak English. 

“Here at the League, we serve both immigrants and refugees coming to the U.S. with little to no English language proficiency as well as folks who grew up here speaking English, but possess very basic literacy skills for a variety of reasons: transportation issues, a diagnosed or undiagnosed learning disability, having to drop out of school to help the family put food on the table, and many more,” Solomon said. “Over the 20 years I’ve spent in adult education, I’ve worked with many students who grew up right here in Central Florida but were just passed through the school system without truly learning to read and fell through the cracks. For that reason, this new data comes as no surprise.” 

Solomon urges that, as the U.S. reckons with K-12 students’ declining test scores after the COVID-19 pandemic, to not forget the great importance of adult literacy as well. 

“Ideally, a literate child will grow into a literate adult, but as this data shows, this isn’t always the case. It is why programs like the Adult Literacy League that provide free, individualized help to those who need it are so important,” she said. “Literate adults are better workers, better citizens and, most importantly, better parents who raise literate children. A literate community is a thriving community for all.” 

ABOUT ADULT LITERACY LEAGUE 

The Adult Literacy League (ALL) was created by a group of dedicated volunteers in 1968 and, since then, has helped thousands of adults 18 and older gain employment and economic self-sufficiency through one-on-one tutoring and classes in reading, writing, citizenship, job skills, math and other key studies. ALL holds classes in Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).  

For more information, contact Peyton Whittington, Development & Communications Manager, at 407-738-0310 or [email protected]

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