The initial sources of information for this Transitional Plan on individuals in the State in need of adult education and literacy programs and services includes estimates reported in 1990 census data for Ohio and findings of the Ohio Adult Literacy Survey conducted in 1992.
(1) U.S. Census Estimates
Estimates indicate the number of adults in the State aged 25 years and older to be 6,924,764. Of these, over 91,000 (.013) have completed less than a 5th grade level of education, over 546,000 (.079) have completed less than nine (9) years of education and over 1.1 million (.243) have not completed twelve (12) years.
(2) Ohio Adult Literacy Survey Findings
The Ohio Adult Literacy Survey (OALS) was designed to assess Ohio adults' literacy skills according to their performance on tasks that reflect the type of materials and demands adults encounter in their daily lives. A total of 1,568 adults, 16 years of age and older, were randomly selected and surveyed. This sample was representative of over 8.3 million adults statewide. Survey participants were asked to spend approximately one hour responding to a series of literacy tasks as well as answer questions about their demographic characteristics, educational background, employment, income, and reading practices.
Adults received proficiency scores (0-500) in three categories, or scales, each representing a distinct aspect of literacy: prose, document, and quantitative. For each of those scales, five levels of proficiency were defined: Level 1 (0-225), Level 2 (226-275), Level 3 (276-325), Level 4 (326-375), and Level 5 (376-500). Level 1 represents the lowest and Level 5 the highest level.
Percent distributions of Ohio's survey sample by levels and scale categories:
|
|
Percent of Sample |
| Literacy Level |
Score Range |
Prose |
Document |
Quantitative |
| 1 |
0-225 |
16 |
18 |
17 |
| 2 |
226-275 |
29 |
31 |
27 |
| 3 |
276-325 |
34 |
32 |
33 |
| 4 |
326-375 |
18 |
17 |
19 |
| 5 |
376-500 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
(3) Analysis of Level 1
Of those scoring in Level 1 on the quantitative scale, only 36% had completed high school or high school equivalence as compared with 74% of adults statewide. Of those scoring on Level 1 for all three scales: 40% were aged 65 or older compared with 17% of the state population, and 26%-28% had physical or mental conditions that prevented full participation in school, other activities compared with 11% of the state population.
(4) Profiles of Adults in Ohio
a. Older respondents were more likely than younger respondents to demonstrate poor literacy skills: 50%-63% of respondents age 55-64 ranked in the two lowest levels and 73%-84% of respondents age 65 and older ranked in the two lowest levels.
b. The average scores of 19-24 year olds were comparable to those of adults age 35-44.
c. African-American adults were more likely than white adults to perform in the two lowest levels and less likely to attain the two highest levels. 27%-37% of African-American adults ranked in Level 1, compared to 14%-16% of white adults.
d. Average years of schooling for African-American adults was 12.3 years; for whites it was 12.6 years.
(5) Levels of Education and Literacy Scores
| Level of Education |
Average Prose Score |
| 0-8 years |
210 |
| 9-12 years |
235 |
| High School Diploma |
276 |
| Some postsecondary education |
302 |
| Two-year postsecondary |
320 |
| Four-year postsecondary |
317 |
The average scores of school dropouts in Ohio who had studied for a GED or high school equivalence diploma were 41-43 points higher on each literacy scale than the scores of dropouts who had not participated in such a program. 41% of the Ohio respondents who had studied for the GED indicated that they received it.
(6) Employment, Economic Status, and Civic Responsibility
a. Of employed respondents, 31%-38% performed in Levels 1 and 2, while 59%-64% of unemployed respondents performed in the same levels.
b. Voters had significantly higher scores than non-voters.
c. Of adults designated as poor or near poor, 62%-70% performed in Levels 1 and 2.
d. Median weekly earnings by literacy level:
| Level 1 |
$197 - $205 |
| Level 3 |
$314 - $332 |
| Level 5 |
$560 - $594 |
(7) Additional Findings
a. The average prose, document, and quantitative proficiencies of Ohio respondents were almost identical to those living in the Midwest and higher than those of adults nationwide.
b. Most adults who demonstrated limited skills described themselves as able to read and write English well.
Additional information on needs with respect to selected sub-populations, including low income learners who are educationally disadvantaged; individuals with disabilities; single parents and displaced homemakers; individuals with multiple barriers to education; individuals with limited English proficiency; and institutionalized adults will be provided in the full State Plan for this Title to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in April 2000.
Mutual assessments and the sharing of needs assessment information at the state, and possibly the sub-state levels, are also plaCtrl-Entered to be conducted with mandatory partners identified in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and other significant program partners. These are intended to include, but may not be limited to, state and local employment and training services, adult vocational education, rehabilitation services, one-stop employment and training centers, Head Start, Even Start, and Ohio Works First.
2.1 Individuals Most in Need
