Let's talk about texts.

WHY DO TEXTBOOKS ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY three-quarters of the costs for community college students, and a quarter of expenses for students at four-year public schools? A congressional report issued by the Government Accountability Office this summer attributed skyrocketing costs--on average nearly $900 per student at public institutions--to several factors, including the bundling of books with new technologies and the frequent release of new editions.

Yet the National Association for College Stores says leaders on campus can do some things to contain the situation. NACS generally agreed with the findings of the GAO report, calling it the most accurate capture of the textbook pricing structure yet. "I think it opened up questions as well," says NACS spokeswoman Laura Nakoneczny. During a webcast in September, NACS Director of Government Affairs Rich Hershman said faculty and bookstore directors should sit down and talk about textbook price structures. Campus retailers and faculty should then convene meetings with other key stakeholders on campus, use the report to help explain the process of textbook adoption, and discuss how they support the goal of making college education more affordable.

Several states including Connecticut continue to evaluate the textbook issue, while Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has proposed a bill to grant colleges money to fund feasibility studies on textbook rental programs. --C.M.F.