Dear Imagination Library Friends,
We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for your dedication and efforts to grow Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) in communities across the state. Your passion, partnership, and perseverance are helping to bring the love of reading to more children and families every day.
We wanted to share an update regarding what our advocacy over the last two years has resulted in:
- Strong bipartisan support for a bill, which would establish the infrastructure for a statewide program, provide shared funding of the 50% state match, and include a dedicated appropriation to support its implementation.
- Increased funding each year from $481,180 (appropriation in 2022) to $2.9m over the biennium.
- 70,000+ (14%) of children and families (birth to age five) enrolled and receiving books.
- Built the Kids Need to Read Coalition with over 8,000 members.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) is a key component of Virginia’s comprehensive strategy to address a critical challenge: 40% of Virginia’s third graders are not reading proficiently — and in some communities, that number is even higher. The recently released 2024 Nation’s Report Card (National Assessment of Educational Progress) highlights a troubling trend — reading scores are slipping across the nation, including in Virginia. Only 31% of Virginia’s fourth graders were at or above proficient in reading.
On April 2nd, the VA General Assembly reconvened to review Governor Youngkin’s proposed amendments to the conference budget report that was passed in February. In response to the uncertainty surrounding federal funding, the governor proposed $300 million in spending cuts, reallocating those funds to bolster the state’s reserves. The General Assembly approved 33 of the Governor’s proposed amendments. Governor Youngkin now enters a 30-day period in which he may take final action on the budget bill. His options include:
- Signing the bill into law
- Vetoing the entire bill
- Issuing line item vetoes
- Take no action, in which case the bill becomes law as passed by the legislation.
Both the House and Senate created special committees to monitor the impacts of federal reductions on the state budget. The legislature remains in a special session to take any actions needed.
What should you do?
At this time, no action is needed from our local partners as we navigate these stages of the legislative process. We may reach out if there is an opportunity for input or support from our Local Program Partners (LPPs).
We kindly ask that you do not reach out to legislators independently during this time. It’s important that we maintain a unified and coordinated approach as we move through the legislative session. Together, we must do all we can to ensure every child has the opportunity to read.
You play such a pivotal role in helping us expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across Virginia. With your support, we will reach more than 300,000 children and families through statewide expansion — giving every child the strong start they deserve.
With Gratitude,
Lisa Howard