The Kentucky House Education Committee unanimously approved legislation Tuesday which could someday expand the Books for Brains program implemented in Trigg County across the state.

The program, which provides age appropriate books to children from birth to five years old free of charge to the families, began as a charitable effort of country music superstar Dolly Parton. It has expanded across the region and legislation sponsor Representative John Tilley says the Trigg Rotary Club and other civic organizations have funded it there.

Representative Tilley says the long-term results of the program will be higher test scores and more well-rounded students.

Budget constraints prevent the General Assembly from taking the program statewide right now, but Representative Tilley and the committee hope private agencies in other counties can mimic what has been done in Trigg County and that more can be done when the state comes out of the recession.

The Trigg County program has provided over 23,000 books to children since August of 2008.

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02/22/2012/am