By Jim Cardle - Texas Insider Exclusive
Some online reports have recentlygushed about the latest fad of developments by their high-tech brethren saying they are paving the way for the state to own (classroom) content allowing educators professors and vendors to update and augment the materials creating an infinite number of derivatives." I suspect the number of derivatives" is probably finite. What may actually be infinite is the number of problems that could be created by this legislation if some rational rule making isnt adopted by the state.
The new legislation that opened the door for open-source" textbooks (and/or instructional materials) is being hailed by some as a virtual digital revolution" that will shape the future of Texas classrooms.
What the open-source cheerleaders fail to address is a growing number of concerns associated with open-source textbook legislation and the harsh reality Texans will face when this legislation makes its way into the classroom.
While technology and electronic instructional content is indeed paving the way for our childrens educational futures state regulators need to take a deep breath and ease into open-source adoptions carefully.
House Bill 2488 calls on the states largest research institutions of higher education to provide open-source instructional materials to public schools. Although the idea of going completely digital may seem appealing in this evolving technological world there are some major hurdles that must first be addressed.
If we hastily open up the market to open-source textbooks or instructional materials any eager university professor across the state will be able to write curriculum and decide what our children read in the 
classroom.
This means any individual with an agenda ideology or passionate political preference will be able to write educational material and avoid the standard review process and State Board of Educations (SBOE) oversight.
The SBOE has a constitutional responsibility to manage and protect the childrens textbook (or instructional materials) fund the Permanent School Fund (PSF). Are we sure we want to squander those funds for a fad that may not last until the next legislative session?
Just two short sessions ago the push to put a laptop computer on every Texas school childs desk was repelled and somehow those computers have miraculously appeared on many desks without being paid for by the state and its taxpayers. And remember there are approximately 4.4 million school children in Texas no small price tag for that nice idea mind you.
The SBOE has responsibility for insuring that the instructional materials in our schools are aligned with Texas Educational Knowledge Standards or TEKS. Do we really want to hand over curriculum standards standards that have been the hallmark of our education system to academic institutions and make curriculum a complete free-for-all?
Even as we all climb aboard the technology bandwagon it remains in our students best interest that we act like adults and hold open-source" to the same rigorous standard we have always applied to providers of instructional content such as textbooks.
Tomorrows article will cover at least three additional discusion items including the subject of the SBOE retaining the role in any open-source" adoption process as it moves forward.
James B. Cardle is President & CEO of the Texas Citizen Action Network a dynamic community of Texas leaders who develop ideas brainstorm solutions & acquire the skills necessary to impact the public policy decision making process in Texas.
