Legal News & Government

Step Too Far on Textbook Costs?

With students, parents and politicians all frustrated by high textbook costs, recent years have seen many innovations as well as state and federal legislation. Much of the latter has focused on requirements that involve providing information so students and professors can make sound choices. So new laws or proposals call for publishers to provide details about how different editions of books really are, and basic ordering information so students can comparison shop and colleges can have a stock of new and used options.

June 28, 2010

TN professors fume over bill banning textbook royalties

A new bill would discourage professors from assigning their own textbooks to their students by banning them from collecting royalties on those sales.

(The Tennessean, March 17, 2010) For 10 years, Janet Belsky researched, revised and polished the manuscript for a textbook that would become required reading for countless psychology and nursing students around the country.

 

Law that takes effect in july aimed at controlling textbook costs

The climbing cost of college textbooks has been the subject of congressional hearings and legislative efforts in almost three dozen states. A federal law that takes effect in July is aimed at controlling textbook costs. It requires publishers to tell professors the price of textbooks when they choose books for classes, and it ends the practice of bundling

(Pittsburgh Tribune, March 8, 2010) University of Pittsburgh biology major Zach Miller plunked down well over $400 for the three textbooks he needed for the spring term.

 

If he can't sell the books when he's done with them, he'll probably throw them away.

 

New Tax Law Gives College Students Credit for Textbooks

College students strapped for cash are in for a treat this tax season. Under a change in the tax code, the cost of textbooks and course materials are eligible for a tax credit for the first time for students and their families.

(Epoch Times, February 9, 2010) College students strapped for cash are in for a treat this tax season. Under a change in the tax code, the cost of textbooks and course materials are eligible for a tax credit for the first time for students and their families.

California State Law Requires Digital College Textbooks by 2020

Companies that sell textbooks to California universities must offer electronic versions by 2020, under a new state law.

(Ventura County Star, January 11, 2010) Companies that sell textbooks to California universities must offer electronic versions by 2020, under a new state law.

 

Adobe Bends, a Little, on eBook DRM

Responding to criticism that its anti-piracy mechanisms could slow the growth of the eBook industry, Adobe Systems Inc. plans to liberalize its approach toward Digital Rights Management (DRM) with eBooks.

(Computer World, December 9,2009) Responding to criticism that its anti-piracy mechanisms could slow the growth of the eBook industry, Adobe Systems Inc. plans to liberalize its approach toward Digital Rights Management (DRM) with eBooks.

Community Colleges Get Gift of Millions for Online Education

While Congress is still weighing legislation that could put $500-million into the development of open, online courses, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has stepped up to the plate. The charity is giving $12.9-million to advance technology at community colleges, improving virtual learning environments for both students and teachers.

(The Chronicle of Higher Education, December 3, 2009) While Congress is still weighing legislation that could put $500-million into the development of open, online courses, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has stepped up to the plate.

Final Chapter Looms for Textbooks in Texas

State legislation passed in the spring could put up-to-the-minute instructional content at students' fingertips — either online or in customized printed form — eliminating the mass-market hardback textbook.

(Houston Chronicle, November 23, 2009) FORT WORTH, Texas — Textbooks could be going the way of slide rules and Big Chief tablets within a few years in Texas classrooms.

Lawmaker Tells Texas' State Board of Education that Hispanics are Lacking in Textbooks

Rep. Norma Chavez, representing the House and Senate Hispanic caucuses, told board members that proposed standards for U.S. history, government and other social studies courses are a slap at the state's growing Hispanic population. Only 16 of 162 historical figures that must be covered in social studies are Hispanic.

(The Dallas Morning News, November 19, 2009) AUSTIN – Hispanics are getting the shaft in proposed history and social studies standards for Texas public schools, Hispanic legislative leaders complained Wednesday to the State Board of Education.
 

Obama Administration Should Do More to Achieve College-Graduation Goal, Panelists Say

President Obama and his administration need to get more involved if the United States is to meet his goal of having the world's highest proportion of college graduates by 2020, panelists said at the annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities here on Monday.

(The Chronicle of Higher Education, November 16, 2009) President Obama and his administration need to get more involved if the United States is to meet his goal of having the world's highest proportion of college graduates by 2020, panelists said at the annual meeting of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities here on Monday.