1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep frustration and disappointment with the North Carolina General Assembly's decision to provide insufficient funding for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) program this year, specifically, the decision that prevents new children from being registered. The DPIL is not a luxury. It is one of the most cost-effective, evidence-backed early childhood literacy programs in the country. Countless families in North Carolina, including families in your district, have relied on it to give their children a foundation for lifelong learning during the most critical window of cognitive development: birth to age five. The research is unambiguous: children who are read to regularly develop stronger language skills, better school readiness, and improved long-term outcomes across nearly every measurable dimension. I understand that the General Assembly has continued funding for children already enrolled, and I appreciate that. But cutting off new registrations means that every child born today in North Carolina is being denied access to a program their older siblings may have benefited from. That is not an acceptable outcome, and it is not a decision that reflects our state's commitment to its youngest and most vulnerable residents. The state's role here is modest, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library already subsidizes the cost of books, and our local Smart Start organizations administer the program with remarkable efficiency. North Carolina simply needs to restore the grant funding that allows those organizations to enroll new families. The return on that investment, in reduced educational disparities and stronger communities, far exceeds the cost. I urge you to advocate for the restoration of full DPIL funding in the next budget cycle. Our children's futures are being shaped right now and they cannot wait for the next fiscal year. Thank you for your time and your service to our state. I hope you will stand with North Carolina's families on this issue.