Fla. Board Says Syllabi, Reading Lists Must Be Posted Publicly

"The new policy is part of an amendment to the Florida Board of Governors' regulation on "Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability and Transparency," and it passed unanimously without discussion at a board meeting Thursday. On the agenda item description, board officials cited improved transparency as the impetus for the rule, which is meant to help students "make informed decisions as they select courses.""

""Many of my colleagues and I believe that this is yet another overreach by political appointees to let Florida's faculty know that they are being watched for potentially teaching any content that the far right finds problematic," said John White, a professor of English education and literacy at the University of North Florida. He said officials at his institution told faculty members they must upload their syllabi for 2026 spring semester classes to Simple Syllabus, an online syllabi hosting platform, by December."

"According to the approved amendment, professors must post the syllabi "as early as is feasible" but no fewer than 45 days prior to the start of class. Public syllabi must include "course curriculum, required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials, goals and student expectations of the course, and how student performance will be measured and evaluated, including the grading scale.""

Faculty at all Florida public universities must make syllabi and lists of required or recommended textbooks and instructional materials available online and searchable for students and the public for five years. The rule amends the Board of Governors' regulation on Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability and Transparency and passed unanimously. The board cited improved transparency to help students make informed course selections. Professors must post syllabi at least 45 days before class and include course curriculum, required and recommended textbooks and materials, goals and student expectations, and grading and evaluation methods. Some faculty say the requirement will chill academic freedom and enable public policing of classroom content.

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