The State of Literacy Project
Across Wisconsin, more than 1.5 million adults qualify for literacy services, and over 50% of adults read below a 6th-grade level (PIACC). In Northeast Wisconsin, 21,000 people speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau 2023). Nationally, 21% of adults in the U.S.—roughly 43 million people—have difficulty with basic literacy, including reading short texts, following instructions, or comparing information (NCES 2020).
Learning from our community
The State of Literacy Project, an effort led by Fox Valley Literacy through the generosity of the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region created the State of Literacy Project. From April 2025 through August 2025, we gathered data from 804 community members and 37 organizations across Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, and Waupaca counties, to:
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Learn how people and organizations use literacy in real-life situations
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Understand what barriers exist to accessing or using literacy skills and tools
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Elevate community voices to inform programs and partnerships
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The State of Literacy Project focuses on both immediate and long-term action. In the short-term, our priorities include:
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Expanding flexible learning options
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Reducing daily barriers for learners
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Integrating digital and health literacy into existing classes
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Building on community strengths
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Sparking cross-sector conversations
Success requires community-wide engagement through individual volunteers, expanded programming through partnerships, and donations to fund resources and staffing.
Acknowledgements
State of Literacy was made possible by the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. Thank you to the incredible generosity of our community members who shared your experiences, aspirations, and guidance.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Brian@foxvalleylit.org.
Hablamos español • Peb hais lus HMoob • Tunaongea kiswahili • Nous parlons français • 我们说普通话
