They become adults who can't read well.Based upon the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy, an estimated 20% of adults in Duval County are functionally illiterate. Preventive efforts (early learning initiatives and child-focused programs) are vital but do not address the existing problems of adult illiteracy. Thousands of Florida teens dropped out of school last year, and several more thousand left high school after four years with a “non-standard diploma” or certificate of completion, unable to pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Although counted as graduates by the state of Florida, these young people quickly joined the ranks of existing adults who struggle daily to survive with limited literacy skills.