The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program that gives free books to children, could see major changes due to Missouri’s state-wide budget cuts.
What We Know: Created with the goal of fostering a love of reading in children ages 0-5, Dolly Parton launched her Imagination Library in her home state of Tennessee in 1995 before expanding the program worldwide. The program received state funding in Missouri in 2024 to ensure no cost to schools or families.
The state’s current proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year has $2 million allocated to the program, significantly less than last year’s $6 million.
What It Means: If Governor Mike Kehoe approves the proposed state budget, then the state program have to stop accepting new enrollment applications.
According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Greene County alone had over 5000 children enrolled in the program in the first quarter of 2026.
State leaders say that though they may need to stop enrolling any new kids in the program, they will still provide free books to those currently enrolled.
The governor has until June 30th to approve the proposed budget.