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Missouri Cuts Imagination Library Funding, Halts New Applicants

6/1/2026

24 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Missouri will stop accepting new Imagination Library applicants on July 1, 2026.
Funding dropped from $6 million to $2 million for the next fiscal year.
Democratic Rep. Patti Mansur said the cuts contradict early-literacy promises even though 169,032 children—about 42 % of Missouri’s under-six population—receive a free book each month, while the Missouri Scholars Program got a $10 million increase.

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Story summary

Missouri will stop accepting new Imagination Library applicants on July 1, 2026.
Funding dropped from $6 million to $2 million for the next fiscal year.
Democratic Rep. Patti Mansur said the cuts contradict early-literacy promises even though 169,032 children—about 42 % of Missouri’s under-six population—receive a free book each month, while the Missouri Scholars Program got a $10 million increase.