Every student in every class should have a textbook, according to legislation approved by the New Jersey Senate.
Senator Ron Rice is the primary sponsor of the measure. He says students shouldn't have to share a textbook.
"You need those books to do homework. You need the books to get the home support for education. In urban communities, particularly where you have the majority of minorities and immigrant population, there's no reinforcement of what takes place in the learning process in school in many cases."
Rice says many kids in urban districts don't have a laptop, smartphone, or internet service to take the place of a textbook.
"Our young people don't have them. Parents can't afford them unless you give it to them. The homes aren't wired up in many cases particularly public housing areas and some of the rural communities too."
Rice says all school districts should allocate enough in their budgets for textbooks.
The Assembly has not taken any action on the plan.