Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek has thrown her support behind House Bill 2811 which is all about boosting early literacy, this time through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. According to a statement from the Governor's office, Kotek's testimony to the House Early Childhood and Human Services Committee endorsed the bill that aims to foster a love of reading amongst Oregon's youngest.
"We know that every child is full of promise. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is another key step to improve how we support our kids as they learn to read," the Governor said, according to the press release. Her recommendation includes a $2.2 million General Fund allocation paired with private matching funds. With this combined effort, children in Oregon from birth to age five could have access to a gamut of books, creating home libraries meant to spark and nourish an interest in reading.
The move for supporting early literacy efforts is not a surprise. During the 2023 legislative session, the state had already earmarked $1.7 million to diversify the reach of such programs. Now, with HB 2811, there's an opportunity to cement this form of support into the state's statutory framework, proving Oregon's commitment to its children’s educative foundations.
House Majority Leader Ben Bowman has been flagged by Governor Kotek for commendation, due to his leadership in this domain. "I’m grateful to House Majority Leader Ben Bowman for his leadership and steadfast commitment to advancing early literacy opportunities," Kotek stated, illustrating the importance of legislative leadership in implementing educational initiatives, according to the Governor's office.
