Republicans Cut Funding for Dolly Parton’s Child Reading Program
Summary
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that gives free books to children under five, will keep operating despite the singer’s death. However, some U.S. states like Indiana and Missouri have reduced or cut public funding for the program, causing concerns about its future in those areas.Key Facts
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library started in 1995 and has given out over 300 million books.
- More than 3 million children are registered in the program across the U.S. and other countries.
- Indiana removed state funding for the program last year after previously giving $6 million over two years.
- Missouri cut its program funding from about $6 million to $2 million, freezing new enrollments from July 1.
- Indiana’s current Governor Mike Braun said the program would look for private donations to continue.
- The Dollywood Foundation hopes state governments will restore public funding for the program.
- The program serves children under the age of five to encourage early reading and learning.
- Missouri was the first state to fully fund the Imagination Library before the recent cuts.
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