The system must decide how to spend $115 million in state funds set aside to reduce the burden of textbook costs.

One idea under consideration by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office is to fund community colleges to produce their own textbooks. “I feel like I’m being prepared to re-enter the industry,” he said.Ĭalifornia college students spend on average $938 per year on textbooks and materials, according to the California Student Aid Commission’s 2021-2022 Student Expenses and Resources Survey. That takes some of the pressure off O’Shea, he said, so he can focus on his goal of becoming a certified water plant manager. In the program, at least one major cost is covered: O’Shea’s courses all use free non-copyrighted materials created by the college itself. O’Shea is working towards his associate’s degree in the Water Systems Technology program, which prepares students for careers in wastewater management or drinking water distribution and treatment. I can’t imagine having to spend more money on books - I would not be happy.”

“I’m paying $463 for three classes and I’m like, ‘That’s fine.’ But I can’t imagine going full time and paying more. “California is a really expensive place to live and I’m already paying for college,” O’Shea said. Furthering his education was important to O’Shea, who had been working as an apprentice electrician for his local water district, but the rising cost of college made him question its worth.

Now, at 42 years old, he is trying again. For the last decade Teague O’Shea has been in and out of college.

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