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Advocates push state Open Educational Resource fund to cut textbook costs and improve outcomes
Summary
Advocates and college faculty told the Joint Committee on Higher Education that creating a state Open Educational Resource (OER) trust fund would save students millions and improve equity. Speakers from MASSPIRG, Northern Essex Community College and UMass reported large per-dollar returns from past OER investments and urged lawmakers to fund
The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony supporting H.1427, a bill to establish a state Open Educational Resource (OER) trust fund to finance the creation, adoption and distribution of free or low-cost course materials.
Why it matters: Witnesses said textbook and required-access-code prices have risen far faster than inflation, creating barriers to enrollment and completion. OER materials are freely licensed textbooks, modules and course materials that faculty can adapt; advocates said a modest state investment yields large student savings and improved outcomes,…
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