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Story perspectives

Missouri cuts Imagination Library funding to $2 million

8/28/2026

30 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Missouri lawmakers reduced FY 2027 funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library from $6 million to $2 million.
The $2 million budget will sustain books for over 161,000 enrolled children until funds run out.
Missouri halted new enrollments on July 1, 2026, and the program can operate only through the end of 2026.
Governor Mike Kehoe said the $2 million reflects responsible spending amid the state’s budget imbalance.

History

Historical Context

Founded by Dolly Parton in 1995, the Imagination Library grew from its first Sevier County deliveries in 1998 to delivering books to over 120 million children and reaching more than 1.7 million U.S. participants by 2021. Historically, state partnerships funded this expansion, so Missouri’s 2026 budget reduction that ends new enrollments threatens the program’s continuity for thousands of local children.

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Story summary

Missouri lawmakers reduced FY 2027 funding for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library from $6 million to $2 million.
The $2 million budget will sustain books for over 161,000 enrolled children until funds run out.
Missouri halted new enrollments on July 1, 2026, and the program can operate only through the end of 2026.
Governor Mike Kehoe said the $2 million reflects responsible spending amid the state’s budget imbalance.

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