On the road to literacy: Rolling Reader van benefits kids in underserved communities

THE ABILITY TO read and write are high-priority tools to navigate life. However, according to research, there are millions of Americans being left behind.

The National Literacy Institute reports that the U.S. ranks 36th in literacy — 45 million adults are functionally illiterate and read below a fifth grade level; 85 percent of juvenile offenders have problems reading; about 40 percent of students across the nation cannot read at a basic level and about 70 percent of low-income fourth grade students cannot read at a basic level.