This move directly threatens the independence, integrity, and academic credibility of the state’s higher education system. By allowing political interference into the accreditation process, the state will continue to erode faculty voice, chill academic freedom, and further politicize hiring, curriculum, and tenure decisions. It sets a dangerous precedent that could fragment national accreditation standards, damage Florida’s academic reputation, and jeopardize our students’ futures, including their federal aid eligibility and degree recognition.
“Accreditation matters because it’s the backbone of academic freedom, shared governance, and public trust in the quality of our institutions,” said Teresa M. Hodge, President of the United Faculty of Florida. “This proposed state accreditor appears designed to align more with political priorities rather than academic independence. It seems to be the state’s latest attempt to exert top-down control over what faculty can teach and what students are allowed to learn. Our communities don’t need more politics in our education systems—we need systems that are focused on the growth of our students and not on the political whims of whoever is in charge. It is critical that accreditation remain independent of political interference, grounded in academic standards and peer review, as well as transparent and inclusive of shared governance “principles.”
The implications don’t end at higher education. A shift in accreditation standards will also impact Florida’s Pre-K-12 system in the form of teacher preparation programs at public colleges and universities, certification requirements, and even access to the profession.
“Time and time again, we’ve seen political agendas take priority over sound education policy,” said Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association. “The creation of this state accreditor could derail the very programs we rely on to train and prepare educators at a time when Florida faces a critical teacher and staff shortage. Even dual enrollment offerings for students could be disrupted. Students learn best when they’re free to learn and educators are free to teach—not when curriculum decisions are dictated by politics.”
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CONTACT: FEA Press, feapress@floridaea.org, (850) 201-3223
The Florida Education Association is the state’s largest association of professional employees, with more than 120,000 members. FEA represents PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students at our colleges and universities preparing to become teachers and retired education employees.
