Us Congress House Bill HB6026

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/24/23
• Refer: 10/25/23

Caption

No Cost Educational Resources Act of 2023

Impact

The implementation of HB6026 is expected to foster an educational environment where institutions adopt and create open educational resources (OER). By facilitating grants aimed at developing OER courses, this bill intends to make higher education more financially accessible, particularly for low-income and minority students. The bill highlights a growing recognition of the need for affordable educational resources in disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), potentially leading to a significant reduction in educational expenses.

Summary

House Bill 6026, titled the 'No Cost Educational Resources Act of 2023', aims to amend section 262 of the Museum and Library Services Act. The bill allows the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to award grants to institutions of higher education specifically for courses that utilize only publicly available digital resources for required reading assignments. This initiative seeks to enhance educational accessibility and reduce the financial burden on students who often face high costs associated with traditional textbooks and other course materials.

Contention

While the bill is positioned to deliver substantial benefits to students and educational institutions, there are potential points of contention. Critics may argue about the quality and reliability of freely available digital resources compared to traditional educational materials. Moreover, the bill's effectiveness in genuinely alleviating costs for students will depend on its execution and the commitment of institutions to adopt OER practices. Concerns may also arise regarding the prioritization of grants, particularly whether institutions favoring lower-income and minority students will receive adequate support to implement OER effectively.