Governor signs $3-Million Textbook Funding Boost

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A last-minute bill to provide an additional $3 million in textbook money to local school districts has been signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin.

The funding bill was one of more three dozen bills Fallin signed into law on Wednesday.

The additional $3 million increases the total amount schools will receive for instructional and textbook purposes to $33 million.

The money traditionally has been earmarked strictly for textbook expenses, but local school districts have been granted greater flexibility in recent years to spend the money on other needs.

State Superintendent Janet Barresi says the additional money will be used to "lessen the impact of a tough budget year."

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.