Governor's Early Literacy Foundation asks Finance, Ways and Means for $4.5 million for K–3 books and caregiver texts

James Pond, president of the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation, told the Finance, Ways and Means committee that the foundation is requesting $4.5 million in the next state budget to expand K–3 reading supports statewide.

Pond said the foundation is asking for $3,000,000 to provide six books each to about 85,000 third‑grade students and $1,500,000 to continue a caregiver engagement texting program that would send three weekly, age‑and‑grade‑appropriate SMS messages to about 270,000 caregivers. "This would allow, 3 weekly texts to go out to over 270,000 caregivers across the state and create a learning opportunity to reinforce what's happening within our schools," Pond said.

The foundation described the proposal as an extension of existing early‑literacy work. Pond told the committee the state has provided Dolly Parton's Imagination Library statewide for roughly 20 years and that the program currently serves about 281,000 children from birth through age 5, representing roughly 70% of eligible children in the state. He also said the foundation served 233 school districts last year in kindergarten through second grade, reaching about 230,000 students and distributing about 1,400,000 books to homes and classrooms.

Pond said caregiver engagement began using ESSER funds and now shows sustained uptake: "Our retention rate is almost 90%. Parents are utilizing the schools, are utilizing this, we see a value in it." He added the K–3 books would include a mix of three fiction and three nonfiction titles aligned to the grade students will enter and intended to create shared classroom and home reading experiences.

Committee members asked how caregivers sign up and about local uptake. Representative Love asked how to enroll; Pond responded that districts that participate execute a data‑sharing agreement and use an opt‑out process so parents are signed up unless they opt out. Vice Chair Gillespie asked about Shelby County; Pond said Shelby County is "doing quite well," serving about 45,000 children with the birth‑to‑five program and engaging with priority schools through targeted funds.

Pond framed the request as supporting equity by ensuring every child in participating classrooms receives the same set of books and by giving teachers and librarians shared materials.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the request during the hearing; the item was presented as a budget amendment proposal for the General Assembly to consider during the appropriations process.