Indiana Lawmakers Face Backlash Over Proposed Cuts to Dolly Parton’s Child Literacy Program

The state's budget draft excludes funding for the Imagination Library, a program credited with improving Indiana's child literacy rates.

Indiana's proposed budget removes the state's 50% funding match for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, jeopardizing the program's ability to provide free books to children under five.
The Imagination Library, founded in 1995, has distributed over 240 million books globally and significantly improved child literacy in Indiana, raising the state’s ranking from 19th to 6th nationally.
Governor Mike Braun and the legislature are being urged by advocates, including the Dollywood Foundation, to restore funding during the ongoing budget process.
The program operates through a cost-sharing model, with state funding reducing costs to $1 per month per child, while local communities and donors cover additional expenses.
Lawmakers indicate that funding may be reconsidered in April, contingent on state revenue projections, as debates continue over the program's future.