Minnesota Senate Bill SF219

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/23
• Refer: 1/12/23

Caption

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities providing of affordable textbooks for a percentage of courses requirement

Impact

The implementation of SF219 is anticipated to have a significant positive impact on students attending state colleges and universities in Minnesota. By mandating a specific percentage of affordable textbooks, the bill not only encourages educational institutions to adopt lower-cost materials but also emphasizes the need for transparency in educational pricing. Additionally, the bill requires institutions to compile reports detailing the percentages of courses using affordable materials and the average total textbook costs, thus fostering accountability and ongoing assessment of accessibility efforts.

Summary

SF219 is a bill aimed at enhancing accessibility to affordable educational resources in Minnesota's higher education institutions. The bill requires that by August 31, 2024, a minimum of 15 percent of all courses offered at state colleges and universities must utilize affordable textbooks, defined as those costing $40 or less. This initiative is expected to ease the financial burden on students and promote wider use of open educational resources, which could further enhance educational equity and access across the state.

Contention

Discussions around SF219 suggest a potential contention regarding the definitions and classifications of what constitutes an 'affordable textbook.' Concern may arise over whether the $40 threshold is sufficient in addressing all students' financial challenges, considering that many may still find even this amount burdensome. Moreover, institutions may face challenges in sourcing and implementing open educational resources effectively, given their varied educational approaches and curriculum needs. As such, while the bill promotes beneficial goals, its practical execution will be critical to overcoming these challenges.