Early Literacy Foundation asks committee for $650,000 to offset rising book‑program costs

James Pond, president of the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation, asked the Finance Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 23 for $650,000 to cover rising costs in two statewide book programs. Pond said Dolly Parton's Imagination Library serves about 277,000 children from birth through age 5 and is incurring a roughly 17% cost increase; the foundation is requesting about $450,000 to help cover that change.

Pond said the foundation’s K–3 home library program provides a summer set of six books for rising first‑through‑third graders and that the FY27 request includes just under $200,000 to offset higher printing and transportation costs. He said that, absent additional funding, the Imagination Library shortfall could affect about 30,000 children and the K–3 program could impact between 5,500 and 6,000 students.

Meredith Hillary, director of programs, Dr. Carl Wendt, chief operating officer, and Angel Bell, chief financial officer, accompanied Pond and answered committee questions. Presenters said the per‑child cost for the K–3 program is about $38 and that the Imagination Library program is supported by partnerships in which counties carry approximately half the per‑child cost; Pond said that equates to about $25 per child under the public‑private partnerships the foundation uses.

Committee members asked whether the foundation would reduce books or modify the program if funding is unavailable; Pond said the foundation would consider modifications to preserve as much book access as possible but urged state support to avoid reductions. The committee did not vote on the request during this hearing.