CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / STATEWIDE

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched an effort Wednesday to make California the first state in the nation to offer free online textbooks to its students.

His education secretary, Glen Thomas, will work with other state officials to make math and science textbooks for high school classes available online by this fall. Once textbook makers submit their materials, state officials will create a list of approved materials aligned with state standards.

“As California’s budget crisis continues, we must find such innovative ways to save money and improve services,” Schwarzenegger said in a written statement.

The “initiative will reduce education costs, help encourage collaboration among school districts and help ensure every California student has access to a world-class education.”

-- Seema Mehta