About Us

When we talk about adult literacy, we're typically talking about adults with literacy skills at NRS (National Reporting System) levels 3 and under. Literacy skills include reading, writing, listening, and speaking, as well as specific skills such as digital literacy. Here is a quick-glance of the levels:

Adult Basic Education (ABE) Levels:

1.  Beginning ABE Literacy: Focus on foundational reading and writing skills.

2.  Beginning Basic Education: Learners can comprehend simple texts and write simple notes.

3.  Low Intermediate Basic Education: Students can read texts with clear structures and write simple paragraphs.

4.  High Intermediate Basic Education: Ability to make inferences and comparisons in texts, also includes aspects of Adult Secondary Education in some subjects.

5.  Low Adult Secondary Education: Focus on reading and writing skills for adult learners, building towards higher levels.

6.  High Adult Secondary Education: Prepared for GED® testing and further education. 

English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels:

1.  Beginning ESL Literacy: Focus on initial English language acquisition, including pre-reading and pre-writing.

2.  Low Beginning ESL: Learn high-frequency phrases and foundational communication skills.

3.  High Beginning ESL: Continued development of basic English language skills.

4.  Low Intermediate ESL: Improved comprehension and ability to write simple paragraphs.

5.  High Intermediate ESL: Increased ability to read and write more complex texts.

6.  Advanced ESL: Prepared for advanced learning and complex communication. 

In New Mexico, there is a significant literacy gap, with 29.1% of adults functioning at literacy Level 1 or below, and a full 60% of adults functioning at levels 2 and below. The state's literacy rate is lower than the national average. There are significant disparities between counties, but 7 in 9 counties in New Mexico have populations where 25% or more of the residents have below basic literacy skills.

For numeracy, the percentages rise to 40 and 70%, respectively. Low literacy is linked to a range of issues, including higher unemployment rates, lower median incomes, greater access to healthcare, and higher poverty rates. 

Adult literacy programs include pre-HSE (high school equivalency) programs, one-on-one and small group tutoring, ESL and citizenship classes, and other literacy-focused initiatives. Programs rely on state and/or federal funding as well as diverse sources like individual donors, philanthropic foundations, city and county government, and business and corporate sponsors. 

Adult literacy programs in New Mexico work to support adult literacy learners in their skills development so they can improve their lives and their family prospects, as literacy impacts every aspect of life, from generational literacy to job attainment and advancement to health care access. 

Most literacy programs in the state and nation as a whole rely on generous volunteers to tutor their adult literacy students. Learn more about literacy tutoring here.