The Legislative Budget Board has proposed, as a cost-saving measure, statewide adoption of college textbooks for Core Curriculum courses. So far no bill has surfaced to enact the idea, which would require a statutory change to the Education Code. The recommendation includes a provision for a panel of faculty members to make the choices. The cost savings to the state would presumably result from a more efficient use of student aid funds.
TCCTA Lobbyist Beaman Floyd recommends that faculty members refrain from communicating with lawmakers on this particular topic until a bill surfaces in the House or Senate to enact the LBB recommendation. It is not uncommon for the Legislature to choose a different path from an LBB proposal.
Textbooks are chosen in centralized fashion for public schools in Texas—a process that generates controversy every year on a host of social and political issues.
College textbook prices are a hot topic with the Legislature this session, with several bills designed to address the cost to students. TCCTA has consistently opposed measures that potentially restrict faculty judgment in choosing the most appropriate materials for students. Here's a link to the association's "Talking Points" on this subject, along with some background information.
Here's a link to the LBB recommendation. TCCTA will follow this issue closely.
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