Online textbooks offered free to students

When California math and science teachers return to their classrooms this month, they'll have 10 free online textbooks at their fingertips to help them teach everything from calculus to chemistry. Each of the books meets the state's math and science standards, giving California teachers a high-tech, no-cost tool during tough economic times. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched the digital textbook initiative in June, arguing the online books could help shave hundreds of millions of dollars from the state's education budget, an assertion disputed by education officials, who decried a lack of technology in many schools. The program "gives school districts high-quality, cost-effective options to consider when choosing textbooks for the classroom - not only during these difficult economic times but in the years to come," the governor said.