Greenfield, Ind. — December 15, 2025— Children who enter formal educational settings with a strong foundation in literacy skills are primed for early success and tend to maintain academic advantages throughout their educational journey. A study from Ball State University’s Teachers College highlights how home-based book distribution programs has played a critical role in building these early literacy skills on the lives of Hancock County children.

The research, published in the Early Childhood Education Journal, examined the effects of participation in Hancock County’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) — a monthly book distribution program for children from birth to age five, free to our community’s children. The study analyzed standardized reading proficiency scores collected at kindergarten entry for 747 students across four adjacent school districts.

In Hancock County, this program is made possible through the generosity of our caring community. Since 2015, donors have contributed to an endowment that now exceeds $2 million at the Community Foundation of Hancock County (CFHC). The Imagination Library Endowment Fund provides sustainable financial support for program-related costs. As a result, books are free to families living in Hancock County with children aged birth to five years old. CFHC and the Hancock County Public Library partner to administer this impactful, county-wide effort. Kayla Ball, born at Hancock Regional Hospital, was the first child enrolled in the county’s program on January 1, 2016. Since then, more than 3,200 children, hailing from every corner of the county, have graduated from the program.

Key Findings:

• Students enrolled in DPIL demonstrated significantly higher scores on a national reading measure at kindergarten entry compared to non-participants.
• DPIL participants performed at levels comparable to peers who were, on average, six months older, effectively overcoming typical developmental differences in early reading performance.

“This research represents the largest peer-reviewed investigation of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to date,” said Dr. Jerrell Cassady, lead author and professor in Ball State’s Educational Psychology Department. “Our findings underscore the importance of early literacy initiatives in supporting school readiness.”

Dr. Cassady authored the study along with graduate students Sydney Johnson and Danielle Davis, alum Quinton Quagliano, Ana Aoqui, and Ball State alum Mary Gibble of the Community Foundation of Hancock County (CFHC). It is part of a five-year project evaluating all kindergarten students in Hancock County and reflects a strong community partnership between the county’s public school districts and CFHC.

 Why It Matters:
Home-based book distribution programs like DPIL increase access to print materials, foster language-rich environments, and support foundational skills that translate into early reading strategies. This study provides compelling evidence that such programs can significantly enhance children’s academic trajectories.

For the full study, visit: https://celebratehancock.org/wp-content/uploads/Impact-of-a-Book-Distribution-Program-on-Reading-Performance-at.pdf

CFHC provides philanthropic leadership by encouraging giving, learning, community pride, and civic engagement. Working with caring individuals, families, and organizations to create or grow existing permanent endowment funds is critical to the organization’s mission. These funds generate income that is distributed in the form of grants and scholarships to enrich and enhance life in Hancock County, as well as support the donor’s favorite charitable causes, both at home and afar forever. CFHC has granted millions of dollars since its inception in 1992.