To ensure that the value of educational materials created with federal funds is maximized, we call upon the President to issue a strong Administration policy to ensure that they are made available to the public as Open Educational Resources to freely use, share, and build upon.
The Federal Government currently invests billions of taxpayer dollars each year in programs that include the creation of educational, training, and instructional materials through grants, contracts, and other cooperative agreements
While these materials are created for the public good, they are generally not open to the members of the public who paid for them
generalizing these program-specific policies
significant educational benefits
Governments in other countries are already taking meaningful steps to harness the power of Open Educational Resources
Poland
Canada
a strong Administration policy that will ensure that these valuable informational and educational assets created with Federal funds are unlocked and made available to the educators, students, investors, and innovators eager to put them to productive use.
A broad definition of educational materials
designed to educate, instruct, train or inform
concerning, for example, public health, the environment, or energy that could be adapted for educational use
Free access through the internet.
enable reuse.
Agencies should be required to implement this policy in no more than 12 months.
Agencies should report their progress and results to the Office of Science and Technology Policy