What Is 2017 Affordable College Textbook Act

Overview

The Affordable College Textbook Act of 2017 was a bipartisan legislative effort introduced to address the rising cost of college textbooks, which have increased at over four times the rate of inflation since 1977. The bill sought to make higher education more affordable by promoting the use of open educational resources (OER) in place of traditional, expensive textbooks.

With college students spending an average of $1,240 per year on books and supplies, according to the College Board, the act aimed to reduce financial barriers to education. It emphasized equity by prioritizing funding for minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and public universities.

• Introduced on May 23, 2017 by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) as S. 1639, the bill had bipartisan co-sponsors including Senator Angus King (I-ME).
• The legislation proposed a $500 million federal grant program to be distributed over five years to support the creation and adoption of OER.
• Eligible institutions included community colleges, public universities, and minority-serving institutions such as HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
• Grants would fund projects that replace traditional textbooks with peer-reviewed, openly licensed digital materials that students can access at no cost.
• The bill included reporting requirements to measure savings, student success rates, and course completion improvements linked to OER adoption.

How It Works

The Affordable College Textbook Act established a structured grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Education to incentivize the development and use of open textbooks. Each grant-funded project had to meet specific criteria to ensure quality, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.

• Grant Competition: The Department of Education would conduct a competitive annual grant process, prioritizing consortia of institutions demonstrating strong OER plans.
• Funding Allocation: Up to 80% of grant funds could go to developing new OER, while up to 20% supported training faculty in OER implementation.
• Open Licensing: All materials created must be released under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, allowing free use, adaptation, and redistribution.
• Accessibility Standards: OER must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure access for students with disabilities.
• Cost Savings Reporting: Institutions must report estimated textbook cost reductions per student, with goals to save at least $50 million annually by year five.
• Equity Focus: Priority was given to institutions serving low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students to reduce educational disparities.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 2017 Affordable College Textbook Act with existing textbook cost trends and alternative programs.

This comparison highlights the ambitious scale of the 2017 bill compared to existing practices. While OER adoption was growing before 2017, it remained fragmented without federal coordination. The proposed grant structure aimed to create a national framework for scalable, equitable OER integration.

Why It Matters

Although the 2017 Affordable College Textbook Act did not become law, it sparked national dialogue on textbook affordability and inspired state-level OER initiatives. Its framework continues to influence federal education policy discussions.

• Research shows OER adoption can save students $100–$200 per course, reducing financial stress and dropout rates.
• Colleges using OER report equal or improved pass rates compared to traditional textbook courses.
• The bill’s equity focus addressed systemic barriers for first-generation and low-income students disproportionately affected by textbook costs.
• By mandating open licenses, it promoted innovation, allowing educators to customize materials for diverse classrooms.
• The legislation could have reduced national textbook spending, which exceeds $4.5 billion annually, by up to 25% over a decade.
• Its failure to pass underscored political challenges in securing education funding, but laid groundwork for future OER advocacy.

The 2017 Act remains a landmark proposal in the movement for affordable, equitable higher education. While not enacted, its principles continue to guide open education efforts across the U.S.