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Language and literacy skills of children living in the Verde Valley are significantly behind children from other states. Children from low income families are behind the most. 95% of brain architecture is established by age 5 yrs. Neural pathways that are not stimulated fail to develop or atrophy. Children who are not exposed to rich language, books and reading in the preschool years often never reach their full potential. Arizona spends less on education than 90% of other states, including early childhood education. Federally funded Head Start reaches only a small number of children and working parents struggle the most. Studies have shown that children who start Kindergarten behind tend to stay behind. They often require costly remedial/special education or repeat grades; they are more likely to get demoralized and drop out of school early. It has been estimated that every dollar invested in early childhood education saves taxpayers up to $13.00 in future costs.
Children with good language and early literacy skills are mostly likely to have books in the home, have a playful interaction with their parents around books and see their parents reading. The Imagination Library improves early childhood language and literacy by inspiring a love of books and reading and by providing an engaging free, new age-appropriate book each month to parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Community-wide education and promotion of the program encourages parents to talk and read to their children every day starting in infancy. Sending the book directly to the child in the home is convenient for busy parents and exciting for their children. Project funds go directly to the purchase and sending of the books. Administrative overhead so far has been minimal as Rotary members and their partners (schools, libraries, WIC and other services organizations have helped identify and enroll infants and preschoolers, provide advertising and fund raising.
The Imagination Library is already operating successfully in Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek and Rimrock, funded by the Rotary Club of Sedona's Charitable Fund. As additional funding is secured, we can expand to the rest of the Verde Valley including Cottonwood and Camp Verde where most children live who are under age 5 years. The expansion will help engage the Community Health Department, Northern Arizona Health Care, Yavapai College and local businesses who all benefit from a well educated work force.
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