
Editorial: Don't disappoint Dolly by ending Imagination Library funding
When announcing in 2023 that the state would allocate $6 million over the next two years for The Imagination Library, then-Gov. Eric Holcomb aptly stated that reading is 'the key to further education and opportunity.'
His successor, Gov. Mike Braun, must feel differently. His budget proposal nixes appropriations for the reading program which provides free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age 5. According to The Dollywood Foundation, some 125,000 Hoosier children in all 92 counties receive books each month. Like Jimmy Carter's volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, Dolly Parton will be remembered for her efforts to ensure children have access to books, regardless of their family's income level.
While The Imagination Library has largely been supported by charitable giving, removing public dollars from the program is a bad decision. It signals that reading isn't a priority for Braun and legislators who support his budget proposal. It's also strange timing considering recent improvements in Indiana reading scores.
Over the past two years, Indiana has enjoyed a significant jump in reading scores amongst students. In the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, Indiana improved from 19th to sixth in the nation in fourth grade reading over a two-year period. Eighth grade reading results placed Indiana at sixth in the nation, up from 17th.
'This new data is just one more piece of evidence that the time and resources invested in this effort are paying off for students,' said Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner when the results were released. 'This should provide continued motivation for everyone to keep our foot on the gas pedal, whether that's classroom teachers or parents reading to their child at home.'
Ending public funding for The Imagination Library would be tapping the brakes, not keeping the foot on the gas pedal. As Jenner correctly states, reading at home is critical for young Hoosiers. Access to books, which The Imagination Library provides, is part of that progress. Why would Braun want to slow that progress?
After catching heat from around the globe for the perplexing decision, Braun announced that his wife, First Lady Maureen Braun, would lead an initiative to raise money for The Imagination Library. That's commendable, but it should be done in concert with state funding.
Instead of working '9 to 5' to axe funding for a successful reading program, Hoosier lawmakers should embrace Dolly's Imagination Library 'From Here to the Moon and Back.'
Reading is a gateway. We should support swinging that gate wide open, not closing the door even an inch to comprehension, education and advancement.
News and Tribune, Jeffersonville
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Iowa Board of Regents hears opposition to proposed DEI policy from students, state officials
The Iowa Board of Regents read for the first time a policy that would bar required university courses with "substantial" DEI content. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Members of the Iowa Board of Regents told the public Wednesday they are listening and slowing down the process of implementing new board policy relating to diversity, equity and inclusion in classroom instruction. Regents said whatever policy is eventually approved might look different than its current form. Regent David Barker said a proposed policy barring universities from requiring students to take courses with 'substantial content that conveys DEI or CRT (critical race theory)' to earn their credentials, with pathways to certain course exceptions, 'will be an important first step' in preventing the teaching of controversial ideas as fact and raising confidence in higher education once again. The board discussed the policy in its June 11 meeting, the first of two readings ahead of a vote for approval in July. Under the proposed policy, students could not be required to take courses with 'substantial content' covering areas 'as primary principals' that include topics like antiracism, allyship, microaggressions, types of biases or privileges, social justice, critical race theory and systematic oppression, marginalization or gender theory, among others. Mark Braun, executive director of the board of regents, acknowledged during discussion the vagueness behind the term 'substantial,' but said board staff will work with the institutions to more clearly define it and demonstrate where it should apply as the policy is implemented. He emphasized that this policy would only apply to required courses and not electives. 'To a large extent, this will help highlight just how many academic programs do not require courses that meet the substantial standard,' Braun said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Also included in the policy is an option for seeking exemption, Braun said, as the board understands some courses must include this content for different reasons. According to the policy draft, universities can submit which majors, minors and certificates should be exempted from the rules 'each even-numbered year, no later than June 30.' The board must approve these requests. Regent Christine Hensley and Barker said during the meeting they learned from the emails sent after the suggested policy was released by concerned parties, some of which Barker said were 'a bit on the arrogant and pompous side' or 'showed a misunderstanding of the policy.' However, what helpful information he said he received helped him determine that a better version of this first-draft policy could be developed. Reynolds vetoes $1.5 million for UNI tuition program The goal behind the policy is not to subdue a certain point of view, Barker said, but to prevent attempts on both sides of the political spectrum to present 'contested, controversial ideas as settled fact.' When the policy was first released, Hensley said the discussion this week was supposed to act as the first and second reading, which she said 'lit a firestorm' in many people worried about the policy heading too quickly toward approval. 'I am a very, very strong proponent of when you have something that is controversial, and I would say that this has been controversial, it's important that you take a pause — you push the pause button — you step back, and you take in information from the various groups out there,' Hensley said. Critics of the proposed policy have done more than send emails to board members — some took to public comment Wednesday to express their concerns. Groups and individuals at the institutional and state level have called the revisions classroom censorship and a violation of the law. While many of the students, faculty and citizens who spoke during public comment thanked the board for pushing the vote back, the consensus remained that the policy would harm campuses and their communities while claiming to protect student rights. After the University of Northern Iowa faculty union published a statement opposing the policy last week, United Faculty President Christopher Martin took to public comment Wednesday to explain the three truths he sees about the proposal — first, that it was crafted from out-of-state recommendations instead of in response to major problems in Iowa, second, its implementation will act as censorship by the government, and third, it is against the law. 'There is no middle position, no position of slight appeasement,' Martin said. 'Either you stand for free expression at Iowa's universities or you don't, and God help Iowa, its public universities and all the citizens of this state if you don't.' Ashley Maempa, a doctoral student studying history at the University of Iowa, said she was 'deeply concerned' with both this policy, which she said was an example of over-compliance with the law, and other legislation impacting her institution and other state universities. While the claim behind making these decisions has been that they are protecting students, Maempa said the policy would empower 'a politically appointed government body to make a political decision about what concepts are merely opinions and what has legitimate scholarly basis.' The people who should be deciding what is taught in classes should be the people who are trained to do so, she said, rather than the board, whose members do not have as much experience in these matters. 'We are not political mouthpieces for whoever is in power,' Maempa said. 'We are scholars, we are teachers, we are students. We ask that you vote no on this proposed policy in July, and we ask that you do your job and take a stand for academic freedom in our Legislature.' State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, released a memorandum ahead of the meeting going over past legislation and current Iowa Code relating to the duties of the board and education policy in Iowa, and concluded that the board has no statutory authority to limit academic instruction in this manner and would violate Iowa law by implementing the policy. 'No recent legislation has given the Board of Regents any authority over course content regarding diversity and race or sex discrimination,' Quirmbach said in a press release. 'Moreover, existing Iowa law contains strong protections guarding the academic freedom of both faculty and students, protections that the Board's proposed changes would violate.' With the start date a year away, Quirmbach said in the memorandum there shouldn't be any hurry to finalize it before campus community members have the time to fully review it, let alone form and share an opinion on what impacts they foresee. He suggested pushing the vote back to the fall to provide more time to campus constituents wishing to respond, and to the board in order to look more into the 'possible legal and constitutional vulnerabilities and the risk of legal action against the Board.' Regent Robert Cramer said during the meeting he'd like to hear from university faculty about what language they think would be best used to stop the indoctrination of students in the classroom while still ensuring they have the freedom to teach. Hensley agreed that it was right to push the vote back, and with another reading planned before vote, Hensley said it would be all right if it doesn't feel like the policy is ready for prime time even after seeing edits. 'This isn't going into effect until next year, so we've got time to get this dealt with and dealt with correctly, and I think that should be our number one priority,' Hensley said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
50+ state employees laid off as Indiana budget cuts take effect
The Indiana Historical Bureau, housed within the Indiana State Library in downtown Indianapolis, saw five of its six staff members laid off this week amid statewide budget cuts. The bureau oversees the State Historical Marker Program and other public history initiatives. (Photo courtesy the Indiana State Library) Indiana agencies have laid off dozens of state employees in response to recently enacted budget cuts — marking the first such reductions since Gov. Mike Braun signed the state's new, slimmed down spending plan last month. The governor's office confirmed that agencies under both the education and commerce verticals announced staff reductions on Tuesday. The Indiana State Museum also let go of several employees last week. State officials attributed the layoffs to the new state budget, which slashed operations funding for most agencies. Courtney Bearsch, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education, confirmed on Wednesday that 39 employees across four education-related agencies have so far been notified of a 'Reduction in Force' (RIF). Those layoffs included: 16 employees at the Indiana State Library 14 at the Indiana School for the Deaf 6 at the Department of Education 3 at the Commission for Higher Education 'In the final days of the legislative session, our state's leaders had to adjust the final budget to account for an over $2 billion budget shortfall. Like most agencies across state government, agencies within the education vertical saw budget reductions,' Bearsch told the Indiana Capital Chronicle. 'In response, we have had to make difficult decisions regarding our agencies' operations to adjust to the realities of a much tighter budget.' But cuts to agency funding predates predates the late-session budget shortfall. Braun's draft spending plan — released in February — cut appropriations for the state library by nearly 30%, from roughly $3.7 million a year in the last biennial budget to around $2.6 million. Original drafts of the budget similarly pitched nearly $1 million in cuts for the Indiana School for the Deaf. Both proposed cuts were retained in the final version of the two-year spending plan. Some of the deepest cuts so far appear to be at the Indiana Historical Bureau, a division of the Indiana State Library. Agencies instructed to withhold funds on top of 5% budget cuts Five of the bureau's six staffers were let go Tuesday afternoon without advance notice, affected employees told the Capital Chronicle. That leaves just one person to run the office, which manages 750 community-funded markers across Indiana as part of the State Historical Marker Program, in addition to various other public history initiatives. An additional 43 positions across the education vertical will remain unfilled, for a combined estimated savings of $6.9 million in salary and benefits, Bearsch said. 'This is not something that was taken lightly, and we are grateful for the work of each of these colleagues to serve our agencies and Hoosiers,' she continued. 'Each agency's unique budget and respective reductions determined the staffing adjustments needed. When possible, agencies prioritized not filling vacant positions, as well as leveraging other funding streams, rather than reducing current staffing levels.' In the commerce vertical, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) eliminated eight positions this week as part of a 12-person reduction in workforce across the vertical, said IEDC spokesperson Erin Sweitzer. Three additional layoffs were recorded at the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC), and one from the Governor's Workforce Cabinet. Those layoffs followed earlier reductions driven by 'natural employee attrition'— totaling 49 positions since January. Sweitzer said 89 employees remain at the IEDC and eight at the IDDC. Altogether, the changes are expected to save $7.4 million annually — $1.5 million of which comes from this week's cuts — and 'align' the agency more closely with Braun's strategic priorities, including workforce development and regional economic growth. CONTACT US The staffing shakeups follow sharp reductions to some agency budgets. The state's next two-year spending plan was approved by Indiana lawmakers in April — then signed by Braun in May — and will take effect July 1. The IEDC's operational and programmatic budget was cut by about 25%, from nearly $100 million in the last state budget to about $74 million per year. The state library's annual appropriation dropped from roughly $3.7 million to $2.6 million, and the state museum's from $11.2 million to $10.6 million. The total number of state employees affected by layoffs remains unclear. But state data shows that the overall state workforce has already been shrinking in recent months. According to the Indiana Transparency Portal, the number of state employees fell from 32,212 in December 2024 to 31,513 as of June 10 — a drop of almost 700 workers. Ivy Tech Community College recently announced it will lay off 202 employees statewide as it responds to significant cuts in state funding and frozen tuition rates. And Braun's administration last week directed agencies to withhold additional funds on top of 5% budget cuts already built into the $44 billion biennial budget passed by the Republican-led General Assembly in April. The governor and other state officials have described the reductions as fiscally responsible and necessary for long-term stability. Democrats and other critics have warned, though, that the cuts are likely to interrupt — or end — numerous public services and state programs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump administration protests coming to Indiana Saturday
An Army M1 Abrams tank moves along Independence Ave. as it arrives at West Potomac Park on June 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. Tanks and other heavy military equipment have arrived in the Nation's Capital for a military parade in honor of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, which coincides with President Donald Trump's birthday and Flag Day. (Photo by) While President Donald Trump attends a massive and pricey military parade in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, protests will occur nationwide — including in Indiana. The 'day of defiance' is called 'No Kings' and has more than a dozen events scheduled around the Hoosier state. 'On June 14 — Flag Day — Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn't staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,' the No Kings website says. 'Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.' An Indianapolis protest runs from noon to 3 p.m. at the Statehouse. Other events include: Fort Wayne: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Allen County Courthouse Bloomington: Noon to 3 p.m. at the Monroe County Courthouse Muncie: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Fallen Heroes Memorial Bridge Terre Haute: 10 a.m. to noon at the Vigo County Courthouse Corydon: Noon to 2 p.m. in downtown Corydon The D.C. parade is part of the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary celebration, but it also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. The event, according to Army officials, is expected to include about 6,600 soldiers, as well as about 150 vehicles and over 50 aircraft in the celebration. Hundreds of thousands are expected to attend. The costs of the event have ballooned to between $25 million and $45 million, an Army spokesperson told CNBC. Street repairs alone could cost upwards of $16 million, according to NBC. Some states are sending contingents of National Guard members. The Indiana National Guard said just six soldiers will attend, and on a voluntary basis. The No Kings group is not having a counter protest in D.C. 'From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like,' the website said. 'On June 14th, we're showing up everywhere he isn't — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings.' The group said it expects participants to act lawfully and seek deescalation in potential confrontations with others. Weapons of any kind, even legal ones, shouldn't be brought to No Kings events, it added. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX