Our Mission

The Orange County Literacy Council’s vision is to achieve 100% adult literacy in Orange County; our mission is to assist adults in improving their literacy skills in order to achieve their employment, community, family and life goals.

In Orange County alone, 12% of the population, or 8,615 residents have significant literacy needs. Of this number, approximately 5,000 live in unincorporated areas of Orange County. Approximately, one-third of those with a Hillsborough address lack a high school diploma or GED (2000 census).

The U.S. Department of Education reported that forty-three percent of those with low literacy skills live in poverty with an unemployment rate four to seven times that of people with high literacy skills. According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, workers without a high school diploma, or GED, earn .66 cents for every dollar earned by a high school graduate.

To strive for anything less than 100% would not serve all the residence of Orange County.