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The Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI, pronounced like "apply") released its Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024 on April 16th, 2025.

As of the most recent data release, nearly 3 out of every 4 adults aged 16-65 living in Kentucky's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level. In addition to reading proficiency issues, nearly 4 out of every 5 adults struggle with basic math. Kentucky's Appalachian counties tend to have significantly higher incidence and prevalence rates of both infectious and non-infectious diseases and health behaviors, and face substantial barriers to health and learning.

As of the most recent data release, more than 3 out of every 5 adults aged 16-65 living in Georgia's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level. In addition to reading proficiency issues, nearly 3 out of every 4 adults struggle with basic math. Georgia's Appalachian counties tend to have significantly higher incidence and prevalence rates of both infectious and non-infectious diseases and health behaviors, and face substantial barriers to health and learning.

Nearly 2 out of every 3 adults living in Alabama's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level

Big changes are coming to APPLI in 2025, so I wanted to take some time to provide an update on some items past and what we have in store.

New data released by the National Center for Education Statistics found that a significantly larger percentage of adults living in the U.S.

APPLI has been highlighting the adult literacy, numeracy, public health, and socioeconomic struggles in Appalachian Tennessee.

Just 7 of South Carolina's 46 counties lie within the Appalachian Region.

In 2022, out of 81 countries that participated in PISA evaluations, American students scored 26th in mathematics skills.

The Appalachian Learning Initiative has begun rolling out the latest feature on our website: county-level adult education resources.