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)...

A Report on Textbook Purchasing Practices and Costs in the Commonwealth - In 2005, the Virginia General Assembly directed the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to study the costs of postsecondary textbooks and the textbook purchasing practices of the public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, specifically requesting that SCHEV: (1) conduct a sample survey of public and private colleges in Virginia regarding the costs of textbooks each semester; (2) review and analyze the textbook purchasing policies of the public institutes of higher education and develop and disseminate best practices for textbook purchasing; and (3) review unique laws and alternatives being considered or that have been implemented by institutions of higher education in Virginia and in other states to reduce the financial burden of textbook costs to students and their families. This report contains SCHEV's conclusions and recommendations. (SCHEV, January 2006)...

Steps Taken to Reduce Instructional Materials Costs; Additional Changes Could Benefit Districts - This brief contains recommendations for reducing costs associated with the acquisition of textbooks and other instructional materials. Under existing Florida law, it is illegal for school districts to purchase state-adopted materials from each other or directly from publishers. This brief argues that allowing districts these options has the possibility of producing savings. The Florida Legislature should expand a pilot program that authorized three districts to purchase used state-adopted materials – which led to a reported savings of $84,423 – and expand on steps already taken to ensure all districts receive the same free materials. (Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability, Florida Legislature, April 2005)...