Who pays for textbooks?
• Textbooks are purchased by the School District of Hillsborough County on behalf of the dual enrollment students who are currently enrolled in the public high schools. Textbooks are the property of the School District. • Private and home school students are responsible for purchasing their own textbooks.
Texas has no state mandate to require school districts or colleges to pay for dual credit textbooks used in dual credit courses, which may cost as much as $250 per book. In most cases this expense falls on the student and causes a significant barrier to enrollment, especially in low-income households. Colleges have no source of funds dedicated to paying for textbooks, so they are highly unlikely to do so. School districts have no statutory authority to use textbook funds for dual credit courses, so other local funds have to be committed, such as foundation school funds or the high school allotment. This cost will become prohibitive as book prices increase and more students participate. Also, many school districts are reluctant to purchase college textbooks that are changed much more frequently than high school textbooks.
