Imagination Library Kindergarten Impact Study Final Report

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to summarize the findings and outcomes of the Imagination Library Kindergarten Impact Study (ILKIS) for stakeholders. In 2016, 56% of the children in the Pitt County School District entered school “Ready to Learn,” as determined by Kindergarten entry literacy assessments. An Early Literacy Coalition was created to bring together community members and agencies interested in increasing the literacy rate in the county. Through implementation of a large-scale book distribution program (Dolly Parton Imagination Library [DPIL]) and a variety of other literacy-based initiatives, the coalition aimed to increase the percentage of children who enter school “Ready to Learn.” The DPIL program mails age-appropriate, high-quality books selected by a panel of early childhood and literacy experts once a month to the homes of all enrolled children, ages zero to five. We collaborated with the Pitt County School System to support the engagement and capacity of the community and families to foster early literacy development, inform pedagogical interventions at home and in the schools, evaluate the impact of the early literacy initiatives, and identify coalition practices that can be scaled up across our rural region. The project spanned 5 years. Key community partners across the duration of the project included, but were not limited to: ECU’s Office of Academic Affairs Provost’s Office, ECU’s College of Education, ECU Department of Literacy Studies, English Education, and History Education, Pitt County United Way, Pitt County Schools, Martin Pitt Partnership for Children, Sheppard Memorial Public Library, READ ENC, and Sadie Saulter Preschool. UMC-IRB approval for research with human subjects was sought and approved in July 2017 (UMCIRB 16-001324; expedited 5,6,&7). Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented completion of the research project as originally planned. However, much research and impact resulted and is described in the report that follows.