Kay Ivey says ‘steady progress’ being made on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program
On Tuesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey provided an update on the statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL). The Governor announced that the program that provides books to children continues to grow steadily. Since Governor Ivey kicked off the statewide expansion in August, the program has grown to serve more than 49,000 children. “I am excited to see the rapid growth and response from communities across the state that are now serving children and families by providing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Alabama,” said Gov. Ivey. “The enrollment numbers are encouraging, but our work isn’t done. We still have thirteen counties where the program is not available, and it is my goal for all children age five and younger in our state to be provided coverage.” Ivey said that her number one priority is ensuring that every child is a successful reader by the 3rd grade. Ivey believes that by providing opportunities for every child in our state to interact with books, we prepare infants and young children across Alabama for future success. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library allows parents and families to open a book and read to their children, laying that critical foundation. “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a grassroots, community-based program,” said Gov. Ivey. “Our goal of serving nearly 200,000 children is within reach, and bringing these final counties on board will require strong partnerships and support on the local level. We can’t miss this opportunity to inspire a love for reading and learning in our next generation of Alabamians.” Kahla Williams is the Dollywood Foundation Regional Director. “We have seen not only steady enrollment growth (almost 10,000 more children enrolled in Alabama since August) but a rapid growth of awareness and interest from local organizations across the state looking to get involved,” said Director Williams. “We thank all the local communities and partners who have stepped forward to help pursue DPIL’s mission, and Governor Ivey for the personal approach her administration has taken to grow the program across the state.” Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was created to inspire a love of reading by gifting free books each month to children from birth to age five. The program works with local partners to help fund and sustain the program. The state’s investment in the Imagination Library allows local partners to quickly launch book deliveries to as many children as possible across the state. The books delivered monthly are free to all children and families who sign up for the program. Jan Hume is the acting Secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. “We are continuing to collaborate with communities across the state to provide full coverage in the partially covered counties and to find local community partners in counties where the program is not available,” said Secretary Hume. “To help bring these final counties on board, funding has been made available to cover the local cost for the first two years of the program that will allow the opportunity for the local community partner to fundraise and kickstart enrollment.” New Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) said, “Several years ago, one of my constituents, Debbie Barclay, approached me asking for the resources necessary to start the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. When Governor Ivey announced she was introducing the Imagination Library statewide, all of Jackson County, especially Debbie, was excited. For our students to have a lifetime of success, we must put books in their hands during their formative years, and Governor Ivey understands that. I thank her for her continued leadership to champion programs that will make a difference for our children.” Ivey declared her intent to participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library during her 2023 Inaugural Address and followed through on her promise with Executive Order 729. Governor Ivey continues to encourage parents to register their children and take advantage of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Alabama. To learn more about becoming a community partner, contact Kahla Williams at kwilliams@imaginationlibrary.com. Parents can enroll their children in this program and learn more as it is expanded across the state by visiting the Dolly Parton Imagination Library website. Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. Research results suggest that there are positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics from participation in the program. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Gov. Kay Ivey announces new first-class Pre-K classrooms in 30 counties
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) on Tuesday announced the expansion of the Alabama First Class Pre-K program. The department will initially add 69 classrooms in 30 counties this fall, serving an additional 1,200 children. “Ensuring our youngest learners have a strong start to their educational journeys is one of my top priorities for my second term. Alabama continues to set the nationwide standard for success with the Alabama First Class Pre-K program,” said Gov. Ivey. “I am excited to see additional classrooms being awarded to areas of the state with low access and high rates of poverty. Providing all children, no matter their zip code, with a solid foundation in education is critical to the future success of our state.” Last month, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) ranked Alabama First Class Pre-K as the nation’s highest-quality state pre-kindergarten program for the 17th consecutive year. Alabama leads the country while expanding program access to Alabama’s 4-year-olds. Dr. Jan Hume is the Acting Secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. “Through the leadership of Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature, Alabama’s state pre-k program continues to move toward the goal of serving 70% of Alabama’s population of 4-year-old children,” said Dr. Hume. “Since the program’s creation in 2000, we continue to prioritize age-appropriate, impactful early learning and development experiences for children and their families.” Supporters claim that the state’s investment in high-quality pre-kindergarten will lead to substantial positive outcomes for children who participate in the program. The Department of Early Childhood Education claims that research on the program’s long-term impacts shows that students who participated in First Class Pre-K are more likely to succeed throughout their school careers than their peers who did not participate. The Legislature hopes that greater access to pre-K classrooms and changes to primary education required by the Alabama Literacy Act and the Alabama Numeracy Act will eventually improve academic performance. According to the latest numbers, in 2023, 25% of Alabama third graders read below third-grade level. That is up from 22% the year before. The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama noted in a recent report that since the Literacy Act was passed in 2019, the State Legislature has provided major increases in funding for reading instruction and services, including the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) and school-based reading coaches. Teachers from Kindergarten to third grade across the state have received intensive professional development designed to improve the teaching of reading, an instructional approach based on what has been hailed as the science of reading. The third grade is important because beginning next year, the state will prevent children who read below a third-grade level from advancing to the fourth grade with their peers. 22% of second graders, most of whom will start third grade in August, cannot read at a second-grade level. These 11,622 children have less than 12 months to catch up to their peers or may not advance to fourth grade next year. Children who do not read well by the end of the third grade are four times more likely to never graduate from high school. Governor Ivey signed the 2024 Education Trust Fund budget, which included an almost $12 million increase for the Office of School Readiness that administers First Class Pre-K. The department will continue to ensure pay parity for all First Class Pre-K teachers with the same pay raise as K-12 public school teachers in the upcoming school year. The ADECE expects to fund additional classrooms in areas of the state with wait lists and other identified needs. This is the largest education budget in the history of the state of Alabama. The classrooms included in this first round are part of Governor Ivey’s specific education initiatives that address turnaround schools and high-needs areas and reduce wait lists for pre-k programs. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey fires Early Childhood Education Secretary Barbara Cooper
On Friday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that she has removed Barbara Cooper from her position as the Secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE). Cooper submitted her resignation after it was discovered that ADECE was promoting “woke” concepts to the teachers of the state’s four-year-olds. The Ivey administration learned that there was a pre-K teacher’s resource book with radical content being distributed across the state. After this was confirmed, Ivey demanded that Cooper issue a memo denouncing the text and removing it from use in Alabama’s pre-K program. Cooper refused and instead offered her resignation. Gov. Ivey accepted her resignation. “The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract or take away from this mission. Let me be crystal clear,” Ivey said in a statement. “Woke concepts that have zero to do with a proper education and that are divisive at the core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone with our youngest learners. We want our children to be focused on the fundamentals, such as reading and math.” “Alabama’s First Class Pre-K is the best in the country, and those children are at too critical of a juncture in their educational journeys and development to get it wrong,” Ivey continued. “I remain confident in the wonderful teachers we have in pre-K classrooms around our state and in the necessity of our children receiving a strong start to their educational journeys in our First Class Pre-K program. I thank Dr. Cooper for her service, but I believe it is best we continue this historically strong program on its forward trajectory under new leadership.” Ivey said that the content is simply not in line with what the Ivey Administration or the people of Alabama stand for or believe. Ivey stated that she strongly believes that woke concepts have no place at any level of education in Alabama and should not be taken away from the overall mission of improving educational outcomes for students. The resource book told the four-year-old kindergarten teachers that there are “larger systemic forces that perpetuate systems of White privilege” and that “the United States is built on systemic and structural racism.” The resource book also instructed the K4 teachers to instruct the four-year-olds that “LGBTQIA+ need to hear and see messages that promote equality, dignity, and worth.” The glossary includes equally disturbing concepts to the Ivey Administration. Ivey said that her administration and the people of Alabama in no way, shape, or form believe should be used to influence school children, let alone four-year-olds. Ivey said that for as long as she is governor, Alabama will be focused on ensuring our students are receiving a quality education and that she does not stand for these concepts. Cooper was appointed to the position in July 2020. Dr. Jan Hume will serve as the interim secretary of the ADECE while Governor Ivey decides on a permanent secretary to lead the department in the immediate future. The legislature is considering legislation by Rep. Ed Oliver that would ban state agencies from teaching and promoting divisive concepts. The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education is a cabinet-level agency that answers directly to the ADECE Secretary, who is appointed by the Governor and is not under the direct supervision of the State School Board – even though many of the pre-K classrooms are in Alabama elementary schools. Gov. Ivey has made expanding the state’s First Class Pre-K classrooms to improve access for four-year-olds across the state a high priority of her administration. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
