No-fee textbooks would save schools, parents thousands

At Center Grove Community School Corporation, the families of students owe about $500,000 in unpaid textbook fees.

But if a proposal from Gov. Eric Holcomb comes to fruition, Indiana would join 43 other states in eliminating textbook fees for students. As Indiana legislators prepare the state’s budget for 2024 and 2025, Holcomb has proposed allocating $120 million more toward local schools to cover those costs.

Multiple lawmakers are also drafting bills to eliminate those fees. Rep. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, is a former teacher and principal who authored Senate Bill 395, which would transfer the cost of curricular materials from families to the Indiana Department of Education, according to the Indiana General Assembly.

“I was a teacher and a principal. I have two children in school and it costs us almost $600 in textbook fees, money that could be invested in our children in other ways (such as) athletics and clubs,” Hunley said. “We can put this money back in Hoosiers’ pockets and fulfill the promise we have for all Americans to give them a free public education. It’s not free if you have to pay $200 a year in textbook fees.”

Rep. Ryan Hatfield, D-Evansville, has drafted similar legislation each year since he joined the legislature in 2017. Once textbook debt goes to collections, parents are responsible for attorney fees, which can be thousands of dollars in addition to the textbook costs, Hatfield said.

Although previous efforts have failed, the 2023 legislative session is the best chance to eliminate textbook fees because of not only Holcomb’s support, but the state’s estimated $6 billion surplus in unspent tax dollars, he said.

“I’m ecstatic the governor decided in 2023 to make it a priority,” Hatfield said. “Hopefully the legislature will hear his calls to pass legislation that will reduce this burden on Indiana families to ensure students, no matter their economic status, care able to get the best education possible.”

Families would each save hundreds of dollars if textbook fees are eliminated. Center Grove High School students, for example, can owe up to $800 in textbook fees if they are enrolled in multiple Advanced Placement, or AP classes, said Jason Taylor, assistant superintendent for Center Grove schools.

While about 20% of Center Grove families qualify for free or reduced-price textbooks due to low income, other families are just above that line and struggle with the fees. Although school officials are able to set up payment plans with some families, other times they have to turn to the court system, he said.

“We work with families as much as we can. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to turn to collections if they haven’t paid anything,” Taylor said. “If parents don’t have to pay these fees to send students to school, I think it would have a huge impact.”

School officials from other local districts did not provide fee estimates for high school students, as they vary widely based on the number of AP and dual credit courses students take. Elementary and middle school students also accrue textbook fees because they rent Chromebooks.

At Greenwood Community School Corporation, for example, families of students between third and eighth grade pay more than $100 in fees. At Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation, where families owed $74,475 in past due textbook fees last school year, those fees range in kindergarten through eighth grade from $131 to $205, according to school officials.

If legislators can include the cost of textbooks in the state budget, it will provide much-needed relief to families, Clark-Pleasant schools Superintendent Patrick Spray said in an email.

“This is a very positive stance from the governor and will be well received by parents,” he said. “The state will need to be sure to put enough appropriations behind this bill so that districts will be able to continue to have quality instructional materials and supplies.”

At Edinburgh Community School Corporation, the average textbook rental fee for a school year is $171, while at Indian Creek schools, students pay between $128 and $197 a year from kindergarten through eighth grade, school leaders said.

While most students’ families pay their textbook fees, it’s time for Indiana to join other states in covering those costs, said Tim Edsell, superintendent at Indian Creek schools.

“I think it’s a good initiative for Gov. Holcomb to request this pursuit of legislators to consider eliminating textbook fees for public schools,” he said. “We are one of seven states that still charge textbook rental fees. I believe this will be well received by families in our district and throughout the state.”