H1427 — An Act reducing the cost of attending college

Summary

An Act reducing the cost of attending college

Bill Text

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The bill establishes the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund to promote the use and distribution of open educational resources in public higher education, and it defines OER within existing law.

• Section 10 of chapter 15A

  “Open educational resources” or “OER”, teaching, learning and research materials in any medium, digital or otherwise, that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution by others with no or limited restrictions.

  Establishes a definition for open educational resources (OER) within Massachusetts law.

• Chapter 29

  Section 2B. (a) For the purposes of this section the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: “Commissioner”, the commissioner of higher education. “Department”, the department of higher education. “Fund”, the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund, established in subsection (b). “Open educational resource” or “OER”, as defined in section 10 of chapter 15A. “Public institution of higher education”, an institution listed in section 5 of chapter 15A. “Statewide OER Advisory Council”, the advisory council, consisting of representatives from the public institutions of higher education listed in section 5 of chapter 15A and overseen by a representative of the department of higher education, that provides advice and counsel for the implementation of OER throughout the commonwealth.

  Creates a new section that establishes definitions related to the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund and its purpose.

• Chapter 29

  (b) (1) To achieve, promote and support college affordability and promote student academic success and completion across the commonwealth, there shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund. The fund shall be used to support the development and distribution of open educational resources, as defined in section 10 of chapter 15A, for university and early college course textbooks and ancillaries, to reduce the cost of college education and decrease financial hardships, including food and housing insecurity induced and exacerbated by rising education costs.

  Establishes the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund to support the development and distribution of OER to promote college affordability.

• Chapter 29

  (c) Amounts credited to the fund may be expended, without further appropriation, by the commissioner for purposes related to the development, distribution, availability and use of open educational resources, including: (i) the development, adaptation, purchase, distribution, availability, publication and implementation of curricular materials that are free for students to use; (ii) professional development and training, including the provision of trainings, seminars, conferences, materials and mentorship for educators in the development and understanding of how to use and distribute OER in the higher education classroom; (iii) technical assistance, including editors, instructional specialists and technologists, graphic designers, accessibility specialists, diversity, equity and inclusion specialists, repository coordinators and other staff contracted to provide required wraparound services for faculty; and (iv) department staff to support existing and additional OER activities generated by this legislation.

  Allows the commissioner to use funds from the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund for various expenses related to OER development and implementation.

• Chapter 29

  (d)(1) There shall be a competitive grant program to promote and support the development of open educational resources for students in public higher education institutions and early college programs.

  Establishes a competitive grant program to support the development of OER in public higher education.

• Chapter 29

  (3) Public Institutions of higher education shall inform students of OER courses that use curricula or resources funded by the fund.

  Mandates public higher education institutions to inform students about OER courses supported by the fund.

• Section 1I of chapter 69

  Annually, not later than November 1, the commissioner of higher education shall file a report with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint committee on higher education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund’s activities.

  Requires the commissioner of higher education to report annually on the activities of the Open Educational Resource Trust Fund.

Sponsors

• Mindy Domb · Primary

Subjects