Florida moves forward with expanded college course transparency after unions withdraw another failed legal challenge
Tallahassee, Florida – Florida education officials say a legal challenge aimed at blocking new course transparency rules has quietly collapsed, marking another courtroom loss for powerful statewide unions and clearing the way for expanded public access to college course information.
On February 9, 2026, Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas announced that the Florida Education Association and the United Faculty of Florida had withdrawn their lawsuit against the Florida Department of Education. The case targeted a rule change approved by the State Board of Education in November 2025, a change officials argue was designed to benefit students, not burden faculty.
The amended rule, known as Rule 6A-14.092 of the Florida Administrative Code, requires institutions within the Florida College System to publicly post course syllabi and required reading materials at least 45 days before classes begin. State leaders say the requirement allows students to see course expectations well in advance, helping them make informed decisions before registering.
Soon after the rule was adopted, the two unions filed suit, claiming the requirement went too far. The legal challenge, however, never reached a full hearing. Instead, the unions chose to withdraw the case, a move the Department of Education framed as a tacit admission that the lawsuit lacked merit.
Commissioner Kamoutsas had already labeled the case frivolous when it was first filed, arguing that the unions were opposing transparency rather than protecting students or educators. In a public post on X at the time, he was blunt in his assessment of the unions’ actions.
“The unions suffered yet another defeat after squandering members’ dues on an unfounded lawsuit aimed at blocking transparency when they should have been supporting it,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “Students attending Florida’s state colleges deserve full and timely access to information about the courses available to them. Requiring the public posting of syllabi and required readings ensures students can make informed choices and helps guarantee they receive the highest quality education possible.”
State officials say the withdrawal confirms what they believed from the start: that the rule falls well within the Board of Education’s authority and aligns with Florida’s broader push for openness in public education. By making syllabi and reading lists available early, the state argues, students can better plan workloads, understand academic expectations, and avoid surprises after classes begin.
The lawsuit’s dismissal also fits a larger pattern, according to the Department of Education. Officials note that this was not the first time the same unions have challenged state education policies in court — and lost.
In 2025, the unions sued over efforts to eliminate what the state described as divisive concepts, including certain diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Department of Education argued those concepts encouraged students to treat others differently based on characteristics such as race or sex. The state ultimately prevailed.
Two years earlier, in 2023, the unions mounted another legal fight, this time attempting to block transparency around reading materials used in K–12 classrooms. That case, too, ended in defeat, with the Department siding alongside parents who sought clearer insight into what their children were being taught.
Even earlier, in 2020, the unions challenged Florida’s push to reopen schools for in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. State leaders warned that prolonged closures would cause severe learning loss. Courts sided with the state, and Florida students returned to classrooms sooner than in many other parts of the country.
Education officials say these repeated lawsuits have cost time and money while failing to change policy outcomes. In contrast, they argue, the state’s transparency initiatives have continued to move forward, supported by the State Board of Education and enforced through administrative rules.
The syllabus-posting requirement remains in effect across the Florida College System. Institutions are expected to comply by making course details publicly available well ahead of each term, giving students and families a clearer picture of what lies ahead academically.
The full agenda from the November 13, 2025, State Board of Education meeting — where the rule amendment was adopted — is available through the Department of Education’s State Board webpage. Information related to the dismissal of the lawsuit is also publicly accessible through the state’s administrative hearings system.
For state leaders, the outcome reinforces a consistent message: transparency in education is not optional, and efforts to block it through the courts will continue to fall short.
