Schools spend $14M less on textbooks than in 2008

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — School districts across Mississippi spent $14 million less on textbooks last year than they did three years ago.

The Clarion-Ledger reports the state Department of Education spent $22 million on textbooks last year. That’s a decrease from the 2008-09 school year, when the reported textbook expenses total was $36 million.

While amounts spent and any increase or decrease varied by district, most have reported decreases over the past three years, according to information obtained from the state Department of Education through an open records request by the newspaper.

One reason for the decrease was districts trying to absorb budget cuts. Another is a growing effort to engage a generation that has grown up with digital technology.