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Virginia law aims to make textbooks more affordable

A new law passed by the General Assembly seeks to make textbooks and other learning materials more affordable to students in Virginia's public schools.

House Bill 137, sponsored by Delegate Christopher K. Peace, R-Mechanicsville, permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks.

Identical to Senate Bill 356, sponsored by Sen. John C. Watkins, R-Midlothian, the bill broadens the term "textbook" to include not only print material but electronic media as well.

A key component of the legislation calls for local school boards to provide the materials at reduced prices or free of charge to students who are unable to afford them.

The measure was approved unanimously by both the House and Senate and was signed in March by Gov. Tim Kaine. The law takes effect July 1.

Mark Burnet, director of the Virginia Open Education Foundation, said, "This bill is a step in (the right) direction, allowing for the first time an all-electronic version of the book to be purchased with textbook funds."

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that funds educational content for Virginia's K-12 schools.