Late last week, Washington wrapped up a swift 60-day legislative session, passing a supplemental budget that makes changes to the two-year, $69 billion operating budget that was approved in 2023. Throughout this year’s session, the Imagination Library of Washington (ILWA) team and many program partners played an active role in advocating for a necessary supplemental budget request that would provide additional funds to support program enrollment growth across the state.

Imagination Library of Washington was awarded an additional $500,000 from the approved supplemental operating budget for year two of the biennium, totaling $1.5 million to increase enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide and expand book access for eligible children through June 2025.

ILWA currently provides 50% match funding to Washington’s 46 local program partners, leveraging the cost of books and mailing for children who are registered for monthly books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The statewide program was established and signed into law in June 2022 through bipartisan legislation and reached full state coverage in July 2023, expanding access to register for the Imagination Library to all Washington children from birth to age five.

"ILWA is so grateful for our local program partners, UWPNW/ILWA lobbyist, Nick Federici, policy advisor, Paul Knox, and our outstanding statewide partners and supporters who did an amazing job of advocating this legislative session! This group collectively engaged in a variety of ways from letters, calls, in-person meetings, testifying, and special video testimonial messages. Together, we put it all out there, and gave 110%, and everyone should be proud of their efforts," stated Imagination Library of Washington Executive Director, Brooke Fisher-Clark.

ILWA thanks Washington State lawmakers and Governor Jay Inslee for their continued support and investment to expand book access for the early learners in Washington, better preparing our youngest generation for success as they embark on their K-12 educational journey.

New funding partnerships and grant opportunities will be a top priority for ILWA for the remainder of the biennium. For more information on how to get involved and support early literacy opportunities for Washington children, visit www.imaginationlibrarywashington.org