One in four adults in the United States, totaling around 17 to 21 million people, read at or below a 4th grade level or cannot read at all. Functional illiteracy, which describes reading and writing skills inadequate for daily living and basic employment tasks, affects 44% of 17-year-olds and 50% of minority youth. Only 3 in 10 8th graders meet reading proficiency standards. Illiteracy is a widespread problem that contributes to other social issues, but there are actions individuals and communities can take to help address this challenge.