From the ECS State Policy Database: Textbooks and Open Source - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

State Initiatives Regarding Electronic or Open Source Textbooks PDF - A growing number of states are using legislation as a means of enabling the use of electronic or open source textbooks. This ECS StateNote examines the differences between e-textbooks and open-source textbooks and takes a look at related action in several states. (Noe Cisneros, Education Commission of the States, September 2009)...

State Textbook Adoption MS Word PDF - This ECS Statenote provides information on how textbooks are selected in each state and whether or not states have free textbook provisions. Also included are the legislative language and code citation on textbook selection and provision for all states. (Kyle Zinth, ECS, January 2005)...

Florida Colleges and Universities are Addressing Textbook Affordability - This brief summarizes Florida and federal activity to contain textbook costs. As a result of action by the state legislature, the state board of education and the postsecondary board of governors now require Florida colleges and public universities to take various actions to help make textbooks more affordable. Florida has also begun a statewide open access textbook initiative that currently offers approximately 170 open access textbooks on a variety of subjects that can be accessed for free online or printed for a nominal cost. (OPPAGA, Florida Legislature, July 2010)...

Textbook Affordability Workgroup: Final Report - As a result of months of research, including a survey of current Florida college policies and procedures, the Workgroup developed recommendations for making textbooks available to students otherwise unable to afford the cost. Among the Workgroup's recommendations: (1) The state board of education should endorse further exploration of open access textbooks; (2)The Florida Department of Education's Division of Florida Colleges should initiate a statewide rental program awareness campaign; (3) Colleges within the Florida College System should collectively seek to secure e-textbook licenses to provide students access to textbooks at no cost; (4) The legislature should consider exempting textbooks from sales tax. (Textbook Affordability Workgroup, Florida Department of Education, July 2010)...

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS): State Implementation Update - The National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard was added to the Individuals with Disabilities Act in 2004. The goal of the standard is to provide guidance to schools to ensure that students with print disabilities have access to the general education curriculum through specially adapted print materials. This document updates the progress states are making in implementing these standards. (Pontea Etemad and Paula Burdette, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, September 2009)...

The National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS): Current State Implementation - As a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states must comply with the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS). This report examines how states are responding to the NIMAS requirements. (Eve Muller and Paula Burdette, Project Forum, August 2007)...

AAP School Division NASTA Adoption Schedule - This chart from American Association of Publishers contains the textbook adoption schedule for states....

K-12 Textbook Approach Needs District Flexibility and Publisher Accountability - This review addresses how Florida’s system for acquiring and distributing textbooks compares to other states and what changes need to be made to Florida’s process to reduce costs. This brief found that, like Florida, most comparison states use an adoption process. Recommendations include authorizing district-to-district sales of materials and allowing the purchase of used books to reduce costs. (Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, The Florida Legislature, April 2003)...