TX - Gregg

**Our History**
The East Texas Literacy Council (ETLC), located in Longview, Texas and serving Gregg County, was established in 1987 as a community-based 501c 3 nonprofit organization. Early Literacy Council work was done by volunteer tutors and two staff members serving 60 clients.

In 1994, ETLC opened the Learning Center with computer learning stations.  In 1999, ETLC began ESL instruction to meet the needs of the growing area immigrant population.

In 2001, ETLC began providing workplace readiness instruction and workplace literacy programs to meet the increased literacy needs in the workplace. 

Today, through community support and grants, the ETLC has been able to increase its capacity to serve adult learners with pre-GED and GED instruction.

**Statistics**
https://proliteracy.org/Adult-Literacy-Facts

Adult literacy can change everything. Health. Gender equality. Poverty. Every important social issue is impacted by low literacy. When individuals learn how to read, write, do basic math, and use computers, they have the power to lift themselves out of poverty, lower health care costs, find and keep sustainable employment, and ultimately change their lives. 

**Family Literacy**
Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves.1 

**Poverty**
Of adults with the lowest literacy levels, 43 percent live in poverty, and 70% of adult welfare recipients have low literacy levels.2

**Health Literacy **
An excess of $230 billion a year in health care costs is linked to low adult literacy.3

**Unemployment/Workforce**
Low literacy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.4 

**Education**
Every year, one in six young adults—more than 1.2 million—drop out of high school.5 

ELL (English Language Learners)
About 50 percent of the 2 million immigrants that come to the U.S. each year lack high school education and proficient English language skills.6

**Corrections**
Research shows that inmates who are educated are 43 percent less likely to return to prison.7 

Low literacy is a global crisis that affects all of us.

That’s why it’s so important to understand the issues and confront the facts head on. Only then can we can stand together to fight for change.



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