DESE and The Dollywood Foundation Working Together

DESE and The Dollywood Foundation are working together to launch Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across Missouri on November 8. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by delivering high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to the homes of registered children under age 5, at no cost to the family.

The Missouri Imagination Library was made possible by legislation (Section 178.694 RSMo) that identifies school districts as the local partner for this initiative. Full funding was included in DESE’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget to establish and administer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for all children in Missouri age 0-5.

There will be no cost to schools for the books or the postage to deliver them. Watch for an Administrative Memo in the coming week with details for school leaders on the November 8 launch and how schools can help families in your community sign up to receive books.