(The Center Square) – The Florida Education Association and the United Faculty of Florida, two teachers’ unions, have withdrawn a legal challenge to a Florida rule requiring public colleges and universities to post course syllabi and required reading materials online.
The requirement, already implemented within K-12 education, applies to institutions within the Florida College System. The rule directs schools to make syllabi and required reading lists publicly available at least 45 days before the start of each semester.
Following the adoption of the amended rule, the FEA and UFF filed a lawsuit challenging the requirement but withdrew it in February.
State education officials say the change is intended to increase transparency and allow students to review course expectations before registering.
“They walked away because they know the truth: transparency matters,” Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said in a post on X. “Posting syllabi and reading lists for postsecondary students is simply the right thing to do.”
The FEA, representing about 150,000 teachers and education employees in Florida, reported annual revenue of about $36 million, with roughly 86% or $31 million coming from membership dues.
UFF is a higher education faculty union affiliate of FEA representing faculty, graduate assistants and staff at Florida universities and colleges. Its members are also members of FEA.
Union leaders opposed Kamoutsas’ characterization of the dropped lawsuit.
FEA President Andrew Spar said in a statement sent to The Center Square that the matter “wasn’t a lawsuit or a courtroom loss,” but rather a joint rule challenge that the unions decided to withdraw as a “strategic shift”.
“FEA will continue to fight in every available avenue to protect public school students,” Spar said.
Spar accused state leaders of “fueling social media outrage for clicks and headlines” and said the unions remain focused on supporting public schools, educators and students.
Calling it a “frivolous lawsuit,” the Florida Department of Education said it will continue enforcing the rule and advancing policies it says prioritize student achievement and public trust in higher education.
“The Department will not be deterred from enforcing state law and will continue advancing policies that prioritize student achievement, provide additional transparency and increase public trust in higher education,” the Florida Department of Education press secretary, Nathalia Medina, told The Center Square in an email.
The Florida Department of Education pointed to a pattern of previous legal disputes initiated by the unions, including cases dating back to 2020 involving school closures, curriculum transparency, and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
