April 13, 2007
Textbook Bill Advances to Governor's Desk in Washington State
Textbook
publishers will have to disclose their book prices and edition changes
to college professors in Washington State if the governor signs into
law a bill the state’s Senate passed unanimously this week.
Students lobbied for the bill though the State Public Interest Research Groups, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
The logic behind the measure is that professors will be less likely to
assign a costly textbook if they are aware of its price and know that
the publisher issues frequent new editions that differ little from old
ones. The Seattle Times said Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat, was expected to sign the bill.
Several
states — including Arkansas, Illinois, and Minnesota — are considering
other measures to ease the burden on students of expensive textbooks.
This spring the U.S. Department of Education’s Advisory Committee on
Student Financial Assistance plans to present a comprehensive report on
textbook costs to Congress. —Sara Lipka
