Governor Ron DeSantis takes strong action to ensure textbook publishers are held accountable for overcharging Florida schools
St. Cloud, Florida – In a decisive move to protect Florida schools, students, and taxpayers, Governor Ron DeSantis announced today a legal action targeting major textbook publishers for overcharging school districts across the state. At the Governor’s direction, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against McGraw Hill and Savvas Learning, alleging violations of state law and significant financial exploitation of public resources.
“Florida continues to lead in education because we stand up for schools, students, and taxpayers,” said Governor DeSantis. “Textbook publishers that exploit Florida school districts must be held accountable, and I commend Attorney General Uthmeier for bringing this action.”
The complaint filed by Attorney General Uthmeier details that when textbook publishers apply to be placed on Florida’s state-adopted textbook list, they are required to agree in writing to automatically reduce the price of instructional materials to match discounts offered in other states. However, both McGraw Hill and Savvas Learning failed to comply with this requirement, resulting in thousands of instances of overcharges.
According to the lawsuit, there have been at least 5,900 instances in which school districts were charged more than the legally mandated price. In one notable example, the Osceola County School District was overcharged by more than $279,000. Another case cited in the complaint involved a textbook sold at a discounted rate to Miami-Dade County Public Schools but priced higher in nine other districts, leading to over $250,000 in extra costs.
“Our lawsuit exposes a textbook case of corporate greed—companies charging Florida schools more than law allows, pocketing the difference, and sticking taxpayers with the bill,” said Attorney General Uthmeier. “Florida will not be a playground for deceitful profiteers who think they can cheat our students and teachers. We will make sure they pay back every dime and face the full consequences under the law.”
The legal action is expected to have wide-ranging effects, guaranteeing fair textbook pricing and potentially returning millions of dollars to Florida’s school districts and taxpayers. The lawsuit also aims to strengthen protections for students by ensuring that instructional materials meet state standards and are available at reasonable costs.
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas emphasized the broader implications of the lawsuit for classroom materials. “Florida districts, teachers and students deserve better than textbooks filled with ideological content sold at inflated costs,” he said. “That’s why we’re building an English language arts curriculum developed in Florida, for Florida’s students with a focus on lower costs, foundational learning, academic integrity, and factual content.”
Florida has consistently led the nation in educational achievements and school choice. The state is currently ranked #1 for Higher Education by U.S. News & World Report for the ninth consecutive year and #1 in overall Education Freedom by the Heritage Foundation for the third year in a row. Additionally, Florida tops the ALEC Index of State Education Freedom, the Parent Power Index by the Center for Education Reform, and the 2025 EdChoice Friedman Index for having the most robust school choice options in the nation, including charter schools, private scholarships, and virtual programs.
Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, the state has taken a firm stance against educational policies and practices that prioritize ideology over student learning. Notable measures include House Bill 1069, signed in 2023, which restricts classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for prekindergarten through grade 8 and sets age-appropriate standards for high school. In 2022, House Bill 1467 increased transparency by requiring school districts to post searchable lists of instructional materials, while House Bill 7 reinforced parental rights by prohibiting the inclusion of indoctrinating concepts such as Critical Race Theory in classroom materials.
The state has also invested heavily in developing new educational content to ensure it aligns with Florida’s academic standards and avoids ideological bias. A $3 million investment has recently funded the creation of a new English Language Arts curriculum for elementary schools, aiming to provide students with accurate, factual, and foundational learning materials.
Governor DeSantis’ announcement underscores Florida’s ongoing commitment to accountability, transparency, and educational excellence. By pursuing legal action against McGraw Hill and Savvas Learning, the state seeks not only financial restitution for overcharged school districts but also long-term safeguards to prevent future exploitation.
“Florida’s students, teachers, and families deserve honesty, fairness, and integrity from the companies that provide their learning materials,” Governor DeSantis said. “We will continue to ensure that every dollar spent on education is used to directly benefit the students and not to line the pockets of profiteers.”
The lawsuit is expected to serve as a model for other states confronting similar issues with textbook pricing and will likely influence the broader educational publishing market. As Florida continues to lead the nation in educational innovation, the state’s approach demonstrates a firm commitment to protecting both students and taxpayers while ensuring that classroom resources remain accessible, affordable, and focused on true learning outcomes.
