The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (the National Academies) will convene an ad hoc committee of experts to conduct a consensus study on literacy across the life course, with an emphasis on adult literacy. The committee will analyze factors that contribute to the current state of literacy in the U.S., what is known about how to improve literacy across the life course, and implications for the well-being of individuals, communities, as well as national security and global competitiveness. The report will include recommendations for policy and practice that take into account the varied landscape of how Americans develop literacy and how best to attain and maintain literacy. The committee’s report will examine --

1. What is known about the current state of literacy across the lifespan, from early childhood to adulthood?

1. What is known about the different educational contexts within which individuals develop literacy? How do educational digital tools and everyday digital media environments shape how people read, write, and communicate?

1. What is known about effective programs for improving literacy at different points across the life course? What programs are promising, but may need further study?

1. What are the implications of literacy for global competitiveness and national security?