Kentucky spending little to none on new textbooks

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Associated Press

Story Created: Tue Aug 14, 2012 5:43 AM

Story Updated: Tue Aug 14, 2012 6:23 AM

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's teachers are being pushed to find more resources online as more and more textbooks become outdated and are not being replaced.
   
The problem comes from an unforgiving state budget that has not allowed for full funding of textbooks in several years. While Kentucky had for many years budgeted more than $20 million annually to help districts pay for new textbooks, that money has slipped away.
   
Wayne Benningfield, superintendent of schools in rural Todd County, says Kentucky teachers have no choice but to move away from primarily using textbooks. He says teachers are always searching for materials that they can, in his words, "beg, steal or borrow."
   
In Hardin County, 45 miles south of Louisville, educators are working on creating virtual textbooks that any teacher could use for free on devices such as tablets.

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