No Cost Educational Resources Act of 2025
Summary
The "No Cost Educational Resources Act of 2025" aims to amend the Museum and Library Services Act, authorizing the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services to award grants to higher education institutions. These grants would support courses using only publicly available digital resources for required reading assignments, specifically in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The bill prioritizes institutions enrolling a high number of low-income or minority students.
Expected Effects
This act is likely to increase the availability and adoption of open educational resources (OER) in higher education, particularly in STEM fields. It could also reduce the financial burden on students by eliminating the need to purchase expensive textbooks. The bill also mandates a report to Congress on the impact of these grants.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced cost of education for students, especially in STEM fields.
- Increased access to educational materials for low-income and minority students.
- Encourages collaboration between faculty, librarians, and other institutions to develop and share OER.
- Promotes innovation in teaching and learning through the use of digital resources.
- Supports the development and adaptation of high-quality, openly accessible educational materials.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for uneven quality of open educational resources compared to traditional textbooks.
- Increased workload for faculty and librarians in finding, adapting, and creating OER.
- Possible resistance from faculty accustomed to using traditional textbooks.
- The report to Congress may reveal unforeseen challenges or limitations of the program.
- The focus on STEM fields may neglect other disciplines where OER could also be beneficial.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It promotes education and access to knowledge, which can be argued as contributing to a more informed citizenry. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).