Mecklenburg County Index of Readiness and Literacy

1. Mecklenburg County Index of Readiness and Literacy Harrison S. Campbell Department of Geography and Earth Science UNC-Charlotte Terri M. Manning Planning and Research Central Piedmont Community College

2. Data Elements Used in the Index • Pre-K, 3rd, 4th and 8th grade data from CMS and private schools • Graduation numbers from CMS and private schools • Adult data (highest grade completed) from the ESC (to be compared to 2000 educational data from Census – available Summer 2002)

3. Data Elements Were Weighted • Based on: • Population numbers in school per age group • Total operative population of the county by year (removing those we don’t expect to be literate or above working age) • Conversion of percentages to scaled scores (1-10)

4. For Example…. One small piece of the puzzle

5. Population of Mecklenburg County 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 Operative population totals 566,150 580,984 599,516 (removing all unaffected individuals, preschoolers, retired, etc.) Population 0-18 yrs 224,880 230,891 238,259 Population in CMS 97,586 99,403 102,013 Population in private schools 16,707 17,018 17,465 Total in School 114,293 116,421 119,478 Percent in school 20.2% 20.0% 19.9% (total in school divided by the operational population)

6. Using 3rd Grade as an example….. In 2000-2001: CMS Private Schools Population 8,719 1,493 Percent passing EOGs 72.8% 84.5% Scaled Score 7.28 8.45 Weighted value .0145 .0025 (based on grade population divided by operative total population) Value in Overall Index .11 .02 (based on weighted value times the scaled score)

7. The Primary Grade Levels Component(K-8) 1999 - 2001

8. As the School System Makes Progress in Primary Grades • The index is only slightly affected because they account for a small piece of the total population

9. Secondary Levels (9th – 12th)1999 - 2001

10. When Secondary Level Progress Declines… • The index is even less affected because secondary students represent a smaller portion of the population than primary students.

11. Adult Component 1999 - 2001

12. As the County Looks at Educational Attainment in Adults.. • The Index can be greatly affected because adults make up the vast majority of the population. We must make an impact of adults.

13. Weights Used in Index, 2001

14. Actual Index 1999 - 2001

15. Literacy by Definition • The US Congress incorporated the following definition of literacy into the National Literacy Act of 1991: • “an individual’s ability to read, write and speak English and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential”

16. A Validation of the Index • Previous national studies on literacy have found that approximately 22% of the population functions at the lowest levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society. • An Index for this county of 7.7 would indicate that 2.3 of 10 people (23%) are not functioning at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society.

17. The Value of a Functionally Literate Community The Best Prevention is a Real Future

18. Savings for Business and the Community Relationship of Education to Social Problems Source: CC Benefits, Economic Impact Study

19. Benefits for the Individual-Average Annual Earnings Based on Years of Education Average Education LevelEarnings + Value • Less than HS degree $16,451 • High school degree $24,498 +$8,048 • Certificate or diploma $28,902 +$4,403 • Associate degree $31,138 +$2,236 • Three years of college $35,846 +$4,708 • Bachelors degree $40,453 +$4,607 • Masters or 5 years $49,629 +$9,176 Source: CC Benefits, Economic Impact Study

20. For a Color Copy of this Presentation: • Go to: • http://inside.cpcc.cc.nc.us/planning/studies_reports • And click on “Readiness and Literacy Index”