Grant Opportunity for Open Textbook Pilot Program (US)

Deadline: 23-Jun-2026

The Open Textbook Pilot Program funds projects that create, adapt, scale, and sustain open textbooks and OER across degree-granting higher education programs. The program prioritizes:

• Development of new open textbooks and course materials.

• Expansion of OER adoption in high-enrollment courses.

• Course- and program-level integration in fields aligned with in-demand occupations.

• Reducing student costs by replacing commercial textbooks.

Funding and award amounts

• Total estimated program funding: USD 7,000,000.

• Award floor (minimum): USD 1,500,000 per grant.

• Award ceiling (maximum): USD 2,000,000 per grant.

• Number of awards: determined by available funds and application quality.

Semantic SEO terms

Open textbook, open educational resources, OER, higher education, affordable learning, cost savings, degree programs, high-enrollment courses, in-demand fields, OER adoption, sustainable open textbooks, grant application, Office of Postsecondary Education.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants typically include:

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

• Private nonprofit institutions of higher education.

• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status.

• Other eligible entities specified in the official program guidelines.

Note: Confirm eligibility in the official Notice Inviting Applications for any additional entity types or consortium rules.

Why it matters

• Lowers student costs: Replacing commercial textbooks with open textbooks can save students hundreds of dollars per course.

• Improves access and equity: Open materials are freely accessible to all students, including those with financial or geographic barriers.

• Supports workforce development: Prioritizing in-demand fields helps prepare students for labor-market needs.

• Encourages instructional innovation: Faculty can adapt and customize OER to improve learning outcomes.

Key program priorities and focus areas

• Creation of high-quality open textbooks aligned to course learning outcomes.

• Large-scale adoption strategies for high-enrollment courses (e.g., introductory STEM, business, nursing).

• Program-level integration (stackable OER across multi-course pathways).

• Sustainability plans for continuing OER maintenance, updates, and community stewardship.

• Evidence-based approaches: assessment of student learning, cost savings, and implementation outcomes.

Expanded explanation of core concepts

• Open textbook: A textbook licensed for free use, adaptation, and redistribution (commonly under Creative Commons licenses).

• OER adoption: Institutional and instructor practices that integrate OER into curricula, assessments, and learning platforms.

• Sustainability plan: A documented method for updating, funding, and stewarding open textbooks after initial development (e.g., editorial workflows, partner networks, institutional commitments).

• High-enrollment course: A course with a large number of students per term where replacing commercial texts yields significant aggregate savings.

• In-demand fields: Occupational areas identified by labor-market data and workforce partners as having high employer need (e.g., healthcare, IT, skilled trades).

How to apply — step-by-step

1. Review official guidance:

   • Download and read the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) and program regulations from the Office of Postsecondary Education website.

2. Confirm eligibility:

   • Verify your organization type and any consortium partner rules.

3. Form partners:

   • Consider cross-institutional consortia, nonprofit partners, workforce partners, or professional societies to strengthen impact and sustainability.

4. Define scope and goals:

   • Identify target courses/programs (prioritize high-enrollment and in-demand fields).

   • Set measurable outcomes: cost savings, adoption rates, learning outcome improvements.

5. Create a project plan:

   • Detailed timeline, deliverables, editorial and peer review process, accessibility compliance, and technology/platform plans.

6. Prepare budget and sustainability plan:

   • Budget for development, peer review, accessibility remediation, instructor training, dissemination, and long-term maintenance.

7. Design evaluation and evidence plan:

   • Assessment methods for student outcomes, cost savings calculations, OER usage metrics, and formative feedback loops.

8. Draft application narratives and attachments:

   • Project abstract, need statement, management plan, letters of support, partner MOUs, and federal assurances.

9. Submit application:

   • Follow the NIA instructions for the application portal, submission format, and deadline.

10. Post-submission:

    • Prepare for possible clarification requests, peer review, and post-award reporting if funded.

Recommended project components (best practice checklist)

• Clear focus on high-enrollment courses or programs.

• Strong, documented partnerships (institutions, workforce, publishers, libraries).

• Open licensing (e.g., CC BY or CC BY-SA).

• Accessibility compliance (WCAG, accessible formats).

• Peer review and quality assurance processes.

• Comprehensive sustainability plan.

• Assessment and evaluation framework with measurable metrics.

• Scalability and dissemination strategy.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Vague outcomes. Tip: Use specific metrics (e.g., target % of course sections adopting the OER, estimated student savings per term).

• Mistake: Weak sustainability plan. Tip: Include institutional commitments for ongoing updates and staffing or a community-edit model.

• Mistake: Ignoring accessibility. Tip: Budget for remediation and test materials with assistive technology users.

• Mistake: Overly ambitious scope without capacity. Tip: Start with a few high-impact courses and plan phased scale-up.

• Mistake: Poor cost justification. Tip: Show detailed cost-savings calculations (students per course × terms per year × average textbook price).

• Tip: Engage faculty early; offer incentives, training, and ready-to-use course packages to encourage adoption.

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is eligible to receive these grants?

   • Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private nonprofit higher education institutions, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and other entities listed in the program guidelines. Check the NIA for full eligibility details.

2. How much funding can an individual project request?

   • Each award must request between USD 1,500,000 and USD 2,000,000.

3. What types of projects are prioritized?

   • Projects that develop or scale open textbooks in high-enrollment courses and programs preparing students for in-demand occupations, with strong sustainability and measurable student cost savings.

4. Are consortia or multi-institution projects allowed?

   • Yes. Collaborations and consortia are encouraged to increase impact and scalability. Include MOUs and partner roles in the application.

5. What licensing is required for created materials?

   • Open licensing is expected (commonly Creative Commons licenses such as CC BY or CC BY-SA) to ensure free reuse and adaptation.

6. How should applicants demonstrate cost savings?

   • Provide baseline data (current textbook costs and enrollments), project adoption targets, and a calculation of projected savings over a defined timeframe.

7. What evaluation measures are recommended?

   • Use adoption rates, student cost savings, course completion and learning outcome data, user satisfaction surveys, and analytics on material usage. Include a plan for data collection and reporting.

Evaluation and award considerations

• Peer review will assess project quality, feasibility, potential impact, sustainability, and alignment with program priorities.

• Applications that demonstrate strong partnerships, rigorous evaluation plans, and clear pathways to large-scale adoption are more competitive.

• The Office of Postsecondary Education may require reporting and evidence of outcomes if awarded.

Reporting and post-award obligations

• Funded projects must submit regular progress reports, final reports, and budget documentation per federal grant terms.

• Expect requirements for dissemination of outcomes, open access to materials, and data on student savings and adoption.

Conclusion

The Open Textbook Pilot Program invests in scalable, sustainable open textbooks and OER that reduce student costs and support workforce-aligned education. Eligible institutions and nonprofits should prepare detailed, evidence-based proposals that target high-enrollment courses, include robust sustainability plans, and clearly document expected cost savings and educational impact.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.