Senate introduces bill to decrease textbook costs
Students and faculty who have adapted to the high textbook prices may find relief in the College Textbook Affordability Act
Recent governmental interest in textbook affordability is part of an ongoing effort to make higher education in general more affordable as represented by the recently passed College Cost Reduction and Access Act. The act will make grant money more accessible to lower income students, cut student loan interest rates in half, cap monthly payments at 15 percent of discretionary income, and protect working students by increasing the amount of student income that is sheltered from financial aid.
Recently Congress requested a study regarding the best ways to reduce textbook costs. The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA) just released the report on its year-long study in June, entitled "Turn the Page: Making College Textbooks More Affordable".
In their findings, the ACSFA recommended a number of short-term solutions ranging from textbook rental programs, ensuring enough financial aid to include the cost of textbooks, and an increased use of no-cost content.
The study stresses the establishment of a national digital marketplace as a long-term solution, stating that "the centerpiece of such a marketplace must be an enabling infrastructure of technology and support services with which institutions, students, faculty, bookstores, publishers and other content providers can interact efficiently."
The bill was introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and was cosponsored by Sen. Norman Coleman (R-Minn.).
Recently Congress requested a study regarding the best ways to reduce textbook costs. The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA) just released the report on its year-long study in June, entitled "Turn the Page: Making College Textbooks More Affordable".
In their findings, the ACSFA recommended a number of short-term solutions ranging from textbook rental programs, ensuring enough financial aid to include the cost of textbooks, and an increased use of no-cost content.
The study stresses the establishment of a national digital marketplace as a long-term solution, stating that "the centerpiece of such a marketplace must be an enabling infrastructure of technology and support services with which institutions, students, faculty, bookstores, publishers and other content providers can interact efficiently."
The bill was introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and was cosponsored by Sen. Norman Coleman (R-Minn.).
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