Polk State Education Program creates textbook donation initiative

For college students nationwide, textbooks can be a major cost. For students in Polk State College’s Education Program, there may be a solution.

Education Program Director Victoria Carlock began her tenure during the Summer 2025 Semester. Shortly after, she started the textbook donation program where Polk State Education students are encouraged to donate their textbooks, so that they could be used by students newer to the program.

The initiative is one of the newest ways for Polk State students to save money. While tuition costs remain one-third the cost of universities and have not increased in more than a decade, Polk State has worked to implement Open Educational Resources in College courses, which have saved students more than $2.5 million in textbook costs since its inception in 2017.

“I knew I wanted to do something to support students,” Carlock reflected. “With textbook costs rising, I thought ‘Why not create a textbook-lending program?’ I couldn’t change the cost of tuition. I couldn’t change how much new textbooks cost. This was something I could help with.”

To this point, more than 50 textbooks have been donated. For Polk State students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Carlock noted that the average cost for textbooks alone is about $1,400 for the duration of the time they’re in the program.

“The goal is to have enough textbooks on hand that students rarely have to pay,” Carlock explained. “Faculty and staff members have helped by purchasing used textbooks and donating them to the program. This will alleviate one of the biggest financial burdens our students have.”

From start to finish, the Elementary Education Program is about 20 total courses. For now, Carlock has at least one donated textbook from every course needed to graduate.

“I think other programs at the College could benefit from this,” Carlock added. “Hopefully, this is the start of a movement.”

In addition to Elementary Education, the Polk State Education Program also offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education and Management. Baccalaureate graduates of the Education Program boast a 100% pass rate on the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE).

To give students a workforce advantage, Polk State provides English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); Exceptional Student Education (ESE); and Reading K-12 Endorsement competencies within its curriculum.

The program currently has more than 100 students and regularly holds virtual information sessions for prospective students. Attendance of at least one information session is required for entry into the program. The next session is scheduled for Nov. 13. All sessions begin at 6 p.m. Meeting links can be found here.

Those interested in donating a textbook or using a donated textbook can email Carlock at vcarlock@polk.edu. The textbooks are currently stored in Carlock’s office on the Lakeland Campus, but if the initiative outgrows that space, that is just fine with the program director.

“I had a student tell me that she had to drop a class because she couldn’t afford the textbook,” Carlock continued. “The feedback has been great. Students are excited to have this in place.”

The Education Program recently purchased labels to be placed inside the cover of the textbooks with the original donor’s name. It also has lines for users to add their names to keep track of how many students have taken advantage of the program.

“When students donate the textbook, they get a little recognition as we add their names,” Carlock concluded. “We’ll always remember who donated each book.”