California will offer free, open-source digital textbooks in mathematics and science for high school students, under a plan unveiled by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Republican governor says his state would be the first in the nation to take that step.
Digital textbooks and other resources have become increasingly popular in recent years, and Mr. Schwarzenegger believes putting those offerings online will relieve costs and encourage collaboration between school districts. He wants to have a set of approved digital math and science textbooks ready for the coming fall of 2009. He said his secretary of education, Glen Thomas, would work with state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and state school board Chairman Theodore R. Mitchell on the venture.
The state will compile a list of digital texts that are aligned with California’s academic standards, according to the governor, though decisions about which products to use will be left to districts, said Jessica Hsiang of the secretary of education’s office.
