In a move to boost early childhood literacy, Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek announced the expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to kids across the state. During a celebration event, Governor Kotek expressed her commitment to enhancing educational support for young ones, stating, "We know that every child is full of promise."

The initiative, backed by The Dollywood Foundation and local partnerships will now aim to provide a monthly book to every Oregon child under the age of five. "The expansion of this program across Oregon is another key step we are taking as part of a broader strategy to improve how we support our kids, as they learn to read," Kotek conveyed during the announcement. Already, more than 54,000 children in Oregon are reaping the benefits through existing community programs, crunching down on illiteracy one page at a time.

Launched in 1995 by the acclaimed singer and philanthropist, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been a bedrock for early reading development, distributing over 220 million free books globally. In last year's legislative session, $1.7 million was allocated through Senate Bill 5506 to the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to support Oregon's involvement in this endeavor. House Democratic Leader Ben Bowman lauded the partnership: “When state government partners with organizations like DPIL, we can truly make Oregon a better place to live, learn, and raise a family,” according to an official release.

The state is not just stopping at distributing books, but is also investing in the education of educators. Last year, Governor Kotek initiated the Early Literacy Educator Prep Council to bolster the teaching force in guiding young learners through their first letters and words. Moreover, a $90 million Early Literacy Success Initiative has been set in motion for school districts to arm teachers with the necessary resources, and provide parents the crucial support needed in those tender, early years before school.

Recognizing the need for more resources, DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee pointed out the importance of an early start, "Brain science clearly shows that kids start to develop literacy skills from birth." As the program seeks additional community partners to involve, families interested in getting their children on board can visit www.imaginationlibrary.com to check availability or register interest.