About Literacy: PIAAC - Florida Literacy Coalition

About Literacy

Survey of Adult Skills

The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Abilities (PIAAC) manages the Survey of Adult Skills. The survey measures adults' levels in key information-processing skills—reading and writing ability, numeracy, and problem solving—and gathers information and data on how adults use these skills at home, at work, and in the community.

About Literacy

	PIAAC Survey of Adult Skills
	National Assessment of Adult Lit
	Statistical Reference Guide
	Web Resources

PIAAC News

U.S. State & County Estimates
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has produced estimates of adults' literacy and numeracy skills for all U.S. states and counties, which are accessible through an interactive mapping tool for each proficiency level, as well as the average score in the state and county.

U.S. PIAAC Skills Map: State and County Indicators of Adult Literacy and Numeracy

Access the Skills Map

Users can compare estimates at the county or state level. The map also uses demographic data from the American Community Survey to help users draw the connection between skill level and variables like race and ethnicity, education level, and income. These estimates are based on combined PIAAC data collected in 2012, 2014, and 2017. See below for explanation of proficiency levels.

Briefing on the U.S. Skills Map

Dr. Stephen Provasnik of the NCES presented information about the newly released tool during the Opening General Session of the Florida Literacy Virtual Conference. Watch the presentation below.

Florida State & County Estimates

This report contains visual comparisons of estimates for each county and the state of Florida as a whole. Access data at each proficiency level, as well as the average score.

Download Florida-Specific Data

FLC has developed the following downloadable spreadsheets, which provide county PIAAC data cross-referenced with Census data in key demographic areas.

County Averages (PIAAC Level 1 and Level 1 & 2 combined)

Includes county data for 1) PIAAC reading, 2) PIAAC numeracy, 3) foreign-born residents, 4) residents who don't speak English well, and 5) residents living below 150% of the poverty level.

Residents at or Below Level 1   |   Combined Average (Levels 1 & 2)

Race/Ethnicity

Includes county data for PIAAC reading and numeracy, cross-referenced with race and ethnicity.

Residents at or Below Level 1   |   Combined Average (Levels 1 & 2)

Educational Level

Includes county data for PIAAC reading and numeracy, cross-referenced with resident education levels.

Residents at or Below Level 1   |   Combined Average (Levels 1 & 2)

Key Findings from the Study

Nationally...

22% of adults age 16 or older are at or below Level 1 of literacy, and 32% are at or below Level 1 of numeracy.

In Florida...

Literacy and numeracy skills rank below the national average.
About 1 in 4 adults are at or below Level 1 of literacy.
35% of adults are at or below Level 1 of numeracy.
There is a strong correlation between literacy and poverty. Of the 10 Florida counties with the lowest PIAAC adult literacy scores, 8 are also counted among the 10 poorest counties, as measured by residents living below 150% in poverty.

Study Shows Approximately One in Four Florida Adults Lack Basic Literacy Skills

Read the article by FLC

ProLiteracy PIAAC Resources

Advocacy Toolkit for Adult Education and Literacy: How to Increase Public and Private Support Using PIAAC Data

This new toolkit describes how adult education and literacy programs can use the latest skills data, program activity and success, and studdent impact stories to advocate with stakeholders at state and local levels.

Download the toolkit on ProLiteracy.org

Adult Literacy Impact Report Template

ProLiteracy has created a template for programs to customize using PIAAC estimates and local program data to illustrate how adult education can positively change the lives of adults.

Download the template and view instructions on ProLiteracy.org

Proficiency Levels

Literacy

Level 1 skills - having reading and writing abilities in the range of not being able to work with print material, to be able to read and understand short materials and do simple tasks, such as filling out forms.
Level 2 skills - better, but still struggling with reading and writing abilities, including being able to read and understand print and digital materials and compare and contrast between materials with better understanding.
Level 3 skills - considered proficient in reading and writing abilities, with the ability to understand complex materials and make inferences from them.

Numeracy

Level 1 skills - can range from the ability to count, do basic arithmetic, and sorting, to being able to perform simple operations such as adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. Adults in this category are at risk of numerical difficulty.
Level 2 skills - involves more complex calculations, requiring two or three steps, as well as knowledge of fractions, decimals, measuring, and interpreting data. Adults in this category may still struggle with complex calculations and unclear information.
Level 3 skills - considered proficiency in mathematical calculations, as well as the ability to use abstract mathematical concepts to reason through quantities and data.

Other PIAAC Reports

2017 Results

2012/2014 Results

List of all PIAAC publications & reports