The Assembly of Madrid has just unanimously approved today the free textbook law, good news for the families of this community that will save between 250 and 300 euros per child each course.
It consists of a voluntary book loan system that will take effect from the 2018-2019 academic year in public and concerted schools of Primary, Compulsory Secondary Education and Basic Vocational Training of the Community of Madrid.
How will the book loan work?
In order for the loan system to be implemented, at the end of the next 2017-2018 academic year, parents who wish to participate must enroll in the program. In doing so, They promise to deliver the books used by their children in perfect condition and so they will receive a free book package at the beginning of the next academic year 2018-2019.
Throughout this course, various campaigns will be launched so that books are cared for by children and arrive in perfect condition at the end of the course. This will also help to raise awareness of care and reuse in children. If the books are returned damaged or lost, there will be a penalty or they will have to be replaced.
The Community of Madrid will finance the acquisition of the textbooks necessary for the implementation of the loan system, once discounted those already provided by the students' parents.
Free for everyone and volunteer
The loan system is universal (There are no limitations depending on the parents' income as in other autonomous communities) and is a volunteer. That is, if you want you sign up to be part of the system and if you do not want, you are not obliged to give the used and buy the books of the new course on your own.
As we read in the text of the law, the cases excepted from this requirement (return books) will include students enrolled in 1st and 2nd Primary (who usually write about them), students enrolled in public special education centers and beneficiaries of the system of loan of textbooks and curricular material for students in socioeconomic disadvantage, according to the opinion approved by the Commission.
