State Takes Initiative for Affordable Text Books
By Margaret Weir/Staff Writer
Gov. Jerry Brown adopted the College Textbook Affordability act (AB 798) into California state Senate and Assembly to provide incentive for California State Universities and community colleges to improve students’ access to free and reduced-price textbooks. The state legislature passed the bill on Sept. 11 and the governor signed it into law on Oct. 8.
AB 798 will promote use of Open Educational Resources (OER), openly licensed learning materials that are available online and in print at drastically reduced prices for students. The content will also include educational videos and online lessons.
The new law requires the academic senates of state schools to adopt local campus resolutions of commitment to increasing their students access to OERs and developing plans to purchase the materials for student use.
Expensive New Editions
Unlike textbooks with expensive new print editions nearly every year, OERs are designed to update automatically, so students will be freed from deciding whether to purchase up-to-date books versus cheaper used editions.
In 2013 the California census bureau reported that the cost of textbooks has raised 864 percent from 1978. This rate of inflation is higher than both medical care and new houses on the market.
This bill was introduced by Assembly member Susan Bonilla (D-Concord) following the program’s successful implementation at UC Davis and University of Illinois to make college more accessible to students. The Community College League of California analysis of the Textbook Affordability act estimates that 40 percent of the cost students face to attend community colleges comes from buying textbooks.
“Far too many of our students and families are struggling to afford college or taking on insurmountable debt due to the rising cost of higher education,” Bonilla said in a statement on her website.
Bonilla and her legislative aid focused on science policy Sarah Brady collaborated on the act.
“The main goal was to save student money on textbooks. The overarching goal is preserving the quality of books being used,” Brady said.
Bonilla worked closely with the Association of American Publishers (AAP) on the bill. “They were involved the entire time,” Brady said. She added that the association “didn’t formally support, didn’t formally oppose.”
David Anderson, AAP executive director of higher education, said as long as nothing in the bill imposes on the rights of private textbook corporations, AAP has no problem with it. “Everyone recognizes $200 is just too much for a textbook,” he said.
Some high-priced textbooks offered at City College’s bookstores are no exception, like one nursing book priced at $220.
“Nursing books are probably the most expensive,” Ocean campus bookstore associate Jermaine Bautista said.
Reward for Implementation
The act gives campuses an Adoption Incentive Fund (AIF) to reward schools who show initiative toward adopting low-priced learning materials. Following the initial grant, schools that have demonstrated commitment to the institution will receive incentive funding through grants for up to three years.
Grant money is strictly for implementation of the act, including staff and faculty development and OER curation activities like archiving textbook material.
The bill also designates funding to encourage schools to modify curriculum for compatibility with OERs, a current hot button issue at City College.
When the bill passed in October, faculty and staff members had no predictions as to how the bill would affect the college’s current accreditation standings.
Contact a reporter
Send an email to: Margaret Weir
Comments are closed.