SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 45
Relating to the designation of April as "Literacy Month" in Missouri.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, literacy means having a broad range of skills that include reading, writing, mathematics, critical thinking, and speaking in English; and
WHEREAS, for businesses, literacy also includes such workplace basics as using computers, working on teams, and making decisions, and a literate workforce is essential to the local, state, and national economy and effects economic competitiveness in a global market; and
WHEREAS, learning does not end with formal education but continues throughout life as individuals acquire new knowledge and skills; and
WHEREAS, literacy empowers parents in their role as their children's first teacher, preparing their children to be ready to learn upon entering school and helping their children to succeed once in school; and
WHEREAS, English as a second language programs empower non-English speaking adults to be successful in society and at work, and to contribute to the success of their children at home through language development and to participate in their children's education; and
WHEREAS, literacy empowers Missouri citizens by enabling them to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Senate of the Ninety-second General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby designate April of each year to be "Literacy Month" in Missouri; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the General Assembly recommend that Literacy Month be observed by schools and all Missouri citizens with appropriate activities that focus public awareness on empowering Missourians through increased literacy skills; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the Governor for his approval or rejection pursuant to the Missouri Constitution.