Interest is pouring in from Missouri parents who have signed up their children for country music singer Dolly Parton’s reading program. Through a partnership, Missouri and Dolly Parton’s “Imagination Library” provides an age-appropriate book each month to kids free of charge. The program is for children under five years old. Pam Victor, with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, says the agency is requesting just over 11 million dollars in the next state budget to cover the costs of this program.
“As of December 8, 2023, 31% of Missouri’s children were enrolled in this program. That’s 116,650 children,” says Victor. “We expect to reach the goal of 50% enrollment in January of 2024 and hit 75% enrollment in May of (20)24.”
To sign up, visit the Imagination Library website.
