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Senate committee hears support for codifying Imagination Library, which leaders say expands access to books
Summary
Witnesses told the Senate committee HB 4,022 A would stabilize Oregon's Dolly Parton Imagination Library, noting statewide coverage, bilingual offerings, low per-book costs, and local fundraising needs; the committee scheduled a work session.
The Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health heard broad support Feb. 17 for House Bill 4,022 A to codify the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in state statute and direct the Department of Early Learning and Care to run the program.
Representative Lucetta Elmer, sponsor of the bill, said the program provides a free age-appropriate book each month to children from birth through age 5 and is intended to help close early-literacy gaps. "Learning to read by fourth grade is widely considered one of the most significant milestones in a child's education," Elmer told the committee.
Laurie McNichol…
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