California open source digital textbook plan faces barriers

“Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has an ambitious plan to reduce
the cost of education in California. He intends for the state to
develop digital open source textbooks for high school math and
science classes. The books will be available for free and will be
used at public schools across the state.

“Schwarzenegger has tasked California Secretary of Education
Glen Thomas with making sure that the new textbooks are ready for
deployment in fall 2009. Thomas will be collaborating with the
State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the president of the
State Board of Education.

“Public education is costly in California and accounts for
roughly 40 percent of the state government’s annual budget. The
state’s current financial woes have forced Schwarzenegger to search
for ways to cut some of the fat out of school spending.”

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