Research has shown that there is an undeniable correlation between incarcerated people and illiteracy. Currently, as a nation, “50% of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth-grade level. Additionally, 45 million are functionally illiterate and read below the 5th grade level” (“Literacy Project”). Being poorly educated greatly impacts one's ability to obtain successful employment and earn a living wage. I was shocked when my college professor told me that society uses the test scores of third-grade students to determine approximately how many prisons the United States would need in the future. In a sense, society is already planning to give up on American children, especially minorities, at such an early age. It makes me wonder why the government would pour funds into the criminal justice system instead of putting it to better use in the education system to avoid the need for additional prison in America. Look at the problems a student faces when they are undereducated and unable to read at the level they should be reading. It causes them to fall behind in coursework, reflects poorly on grades, and can prevent the student from advancing to the next grade. According to recent research, “85% of juvenile delinquents have reading problems” (“Literacy Project”). Eventually, students drop out and