Recognizing the month of September as National Literacy Month and strengthening Philadelphia's commitment to literacy and digital literacy for all residents.

Recognizing the month of September as National Literacy Month and strengthening Philadelphia’s commitment to literacy and digital literacy for all residents. WHEREAS, National Literacy Month is observed annually to underscore the fundamental importance of reading, writing, and digital literacy skills for individuals of all ages, serving as a foundation for educational achievement, workforce readiness, civic participation, and everyday life; and WHEREAS, Literacy extends far beyond school success; it enables people to interpret signs, labels, medical instructions, and legal documents, communicate effectively, access technology, and engage fully with society; and WHEREAS, The history of literacy in the United States reflects a long-standing commitment to universal education, beginning with early colonial laws such as Massachusetts’s 1642 and Connecticut’s 1650 statutes requiring all residents including servants and apprentices to be taught to read, establishing a precedent for formalized education; and WHEREAS, The expansion of public education during the Industrial Revolution and the passage of federal education initiatives throughout the 20th century reinforced literacy as a national priority, while reforms in the 2000s further addressed the needs of immigrant communities and English language learners; and WHEREAS, The modern economy demands advanced literacy and digital skills, with entry-level positions increasingly requiring workers to read, write, interpret digital conten…