California Senate President Seeks To Offer Free Textbooks
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The leader of the state Senate says California should offer an electronic library of free basic textbooks for college students.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg plans to offer legislation next year to create 50 textbooks for the most common college classes.
He will seek the $25 million startup cost even as California cuts spending in education and other areas in response to a lingering multibillion dollar deficit.
Steinberg, a Democrat from Sacramento, said Tuesday that a typical student could save $1,000 of the $1,300 he or she now spends on textbooks each year.
He says that would largely offset recent fee increases by state universities.
Texts would be available free online, or students could get a printed copy for about $20.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
