Senator Bridges Introduces Bill to Improve Childhood Literacy

SB20-185 Invests In Kids At The Most Crucial Point Of Their Development

DENVER – Today, Senator Jeff Bridges introduced his bipartisan bill to increase child literacy and support student success. SB20-185 would create the first official, statewide Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) program for Colorado kids, from enrollment to their fifth birthday.

DPIL would mail one book per month that is age-appropriate, high-quality (typically hard-cover), and selected by a committee of nationally recognized teachers, early childhood educators, and related professionals. Several books would also include reading strategies for parents to use during shared reading time to engage their child and increase vocabulary and comprehension skills

“Dolly Parton's Imagination Library produces impressive and verifiable results, and at just $15 per child per year, the price point that simply can't be beat,” said Senator Bridges (D-Englewood). “This program is one of the least expensive and most impactful ways to make sure our Colorado kids are prepared to succeed in school.”

Identical programs are already running in many cities across the country, as well as statewide in Tennessee. Since implementation, Tennessee has seen a marked improvement in school-readiness of children who graduate the program. Studies have also confirmed this success– showing that DPIL increases the odds of being developmentally prepared for kindergarten by 90%. 

“We all know that parents reading to kids is really, really important,” said Senator Jack Tate (R-Centennial), a cosponsor of the bill. “Research shows that parent involvement in children’s education leads to meaningful improvements in student success. This program will encourage folks to engage with their kids and support the increased frequency of quality family reading.”

This bill would create a one-to-one match for all private donations and encourage the establishment of an affiliate in every county of our state—bringing a program that is already beloved and proven, to every corner of Colorado. In other words, for just $15 per child per year, we can ensure that every kid in Colorado from 0-5 receives a book in the mail every month.

You can watch a brief overview of the program from PBS NewsHour here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWUAkeI2MD0