OLYMPIA, WA – In the face of a $12 billion state budget shortfall, Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has committed discretionary funds from his agency to sustain the Imagination Library of Washington for the next year, following the Legislature’s decision to eliminate program funding.

Founded by country music legend Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five. Since its statewide expansion in 2022, the program has grown to serve 120,000 children in every county across Washington.

Each book costs $2.60, with funding traditionally split between local partners and state allocations. However, the most recent legislative session saw state support for the program cut entirely, alongside other early learning initiatives.

“Washington’s youngest children cannot afford to have their opportunities for early learning cut to this extent,” Reykdal said in the announcement. “Through limited discretionary funds, my agency will keep this program funded for one more year with the goal being to obtain permanent funding from the Legislature next session.”

Families can continue enrolling in the program at no cost and may opt for bilingual English-Spanish books.

Imagination Library of Washington Executive Director Brooke Fisher-Clark praised the continued support, citing rising kindergarten readiness scores as evidence of the program’s impact. “This program has the potential to be absolutely life changing,” she said.

Enrollment and more information are available at imaginationlibrarywashington.org.