As the state legislature considers next year’s budget, advocates urge full restoration of funding for the Connecticut OER Coordinating Council. Since its founding, the Council has saved more than 10,000 students nearly $1.2 million in textbook costs.

Congress renewed funding for the federal Open Textbook Pilot program in Fiscal Year 2026, allocating $7 million for new grants to be distributed by the Department of Education.

If passed, the bill would extend funding at approximately $1 million annually. Since its inception, the program has converted more than 2,200 courses to OER, built 17 zero-textbook-cost degree programs, and saveed students nearly $60 million.