1. @txtbks
EXECUTIVE BRIEFING
The Open Education
Legislative Agenda
Nicole Allen (@txtbks)
Director of Open Education, SPARC
Open Education Leadership Summit
Portland, OR | June 5, 2014 | #OpenLS

2. @txtbks
Public Policy Case
• Textbook prices are out of control (and
legislators are hearing about it)
• Government invests heavily in higher
education (and therefore textbooks)
• Textbook costs are compromising student
success (reducing value of government
investment)
• OER reduce costs, improve student success
(and the data show it)

3. @txtbks

4. @txtbks
Expand availability
and discoverability
of OER

5. @txtbks
Expand availability
and discoverability
of OER
Expand adoption,
adaptation and building
of OER

6. @txtbks
Policy Handles
• Ensure publicly funded resources are openly
licensed
• Create programs that directly advance OER
• Induce or call for action on OER
• Create or change policy frameworks that
enable advancement on OER

7. @txtbks
Open licensing for publicly
funded resources
U.S. Dept. of Labor (2010-2014)
TAACCCT conditions funding on open licensing AND free
online availability for educational materials.
http://www.doleta.gov/taaccct/
U.S. Congress (introduced 2013)
Bipartisan FASTR Act (S. 350/H.R. 708) ensures free
online availability of publicly funded research articles for
everyone to use and build upon.
http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/350?q=s350

8. @txtbks
Open licensing for publicly
funded resources
• Adoption of agency-wide open licensing
policies
• Prioritization of OER in grant programs
that support educational materials
• Blanket legislation requiring open licensing
policies

9. @txtbks
Programs that advance OER
Washington (2009)
State appropriation that enabled SBCTC to launch Open
Course Library
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/House/1244-S.SL.pdf
California (2012)
State legislation and (conditional) appropriation to create a
library of Open Textbooks and a faculty council to oversee
the program
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1051-1100/sb_1052_bill_20120927_chaptered.html

10. @txtbks
Programs that advance OER
U.S. Congress (introduced 2013)
Affordable College Textbook Act (S. 1704/H.R. 3538)
creates a federally funded grant program for open textbook
pilot programs
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:S.1704:

11. @txtbks
Induce or call for advancement
of OER
North Dakota (2013)
Resolutions calling on institutions and faculty to use and
create open textbooks, and calling for a study on potential
impact and avenues of action.
http://www.nd.gov/sos/lr/scannedbills/3013.pdf http://www.nd.gov/sos/lr/scannedbills/3009.pdf
Minnesota (2013)
Set OER as one of five funding-dependent performance
goals for MnSCU system.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF1236&version=3&session=ls88&session_year=2013&session_nu
mber=0

12. @txtbks
Induce or call for advancement
of OER
• Leverage federal resources for institutional
support for OER
• Work with federal officials to elevate the
visibility of OER

13. @txtbks
Create or change
policy frameworks
Canadian Provinces (2014)
British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan signed a MOU
outlining collaboration on development and use of open
textbooks.
http://www.gov.sk.ca/adx/aspx/adxGetMedia.aspx?mediaId=f3d342c4-ab61-44a4-9f96-71ceb7810a5d&PN=Shared
Texas (2009)
Legislation enabled K-12 commissioner to include OER on
list of approved materials.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB2488

14. @txtbks
Create or change
policy frameworks
• Inter-state collaboration in the U.S.
• Addressing issues with vendor contracts
that create barriers to OER
• Improve federal textbook price disclosure
requirements to level the playingfield

15. @txtbks
Advancing OER
in Public Policy

16. @txtbks
Principles
• Policy is a solution to a problem, not an end
in itself
• Passing policy is only half of the battle,
implementation is what makes it work
• Policy is not the equivalent of changing
culture
• Be careful what you wish for…

17. @txtbks
Making the Case
• Know where stakeholders stand (faculty,
bookstore, college, publishers), and partner
with students – your best ally
• Focus on the local impacts of OER and have
data to back it up
• Keep explanations of OER simple

18. @txtbks
What You Can Do
• Educate legislators (federal and state) on the
public policy case for OER
• Consider how OER can fit into YOUR
legislative agenda
• Watch for OER legislation and opportunities
(both good and bad)
• Let us know if you’re in DC!

19. @txtbks

20. @txtbks