The statistics are startling, and the Heart of America
Foundation® is determined to change them. The resources listed
below these statistics are part of the solution, and we
encourage you to work with us and them to make a difference in
these children's lives. - Access to printed materials has been
found to be the "critical variable affecting reading
acquisition." (2) - Thirty-seven percent of all fourth grade
children in the United States are reading at below basic levels.
(functionally illiterate) (1) - Inability to read is linked to
poverty, dependence on welfare, unemployment, and crime. (3) -
The gap is widening between the reading skills of the highest
and lowest performing students. The best students are reading
better while the worst students are falling further behind. (7)
- Communities ranking high in reading achievement tests have: an
abundance of books in public libraries, easy access to books in
the community at large, and a large number of textbooks per
student. (2) - The home environment - spec