Textbook Affordability
Textbook Affordability and Course Material Affordability and Transparency
Textbook and instructional materials affordability remains a top priority for all 28 Florida College System (FCS) institutions.
In 2008, the Florida Legislature addressed the rising costs of textbooks by creating Section (s.) 1004.085, Florida Statutes (F.S.), charging colleges and universities with implementing policies to promote the availability of textbooks to students unable to afford the cost of required course materials. In 2009, the State Board of Education (SBOE) approved Rule 6A-14.092, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), to implement the statute.
During the 2016 legislative session, additional modifications were made to s. 1004.085, F.S., that required colleges to expand efforts to reduce costs. In 2017, the SBOE approved revisions to Rule 6A-14.092, F.A.C., to align with the revised statute.
In 2019, as a result of textbook affordability-related findings from 2017-19 operational audits conducted by the state Auditor General (AG), the Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) Division of Florida Colleges (DFC) requested a consulting engagement with the FDOE Inspector General (IG). Under the advisement of the IG, the DFC formed four textbook affordability workgroups to address areas of the AG’s findings. The workgroups made recommendations to the DFC that ultimately informed amendments to the rule. In 2022, the SBOE approved revisions to Rule 6A-14.092, F.A.C., which updated components of FCS textbook affordability policies and reporting requirements to align with the IG’s advisement.
During the 2022 legislative session, s. 1004.085, F.S., was amended providing additional requirements related to posting lists of required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials. Additionally, s. 1006.73, F.S., was amended adding requirements related to no-cost textbooks and open education resources (OER). On August 17, 2022, the SBOE approved revisions to Rule 6A-14.092, F.A.C, Textbook and Course Material Affordability and Transparency (formerly Textbook Affordability) to align with the revised statute.
Florida Statute on Textbook Affordability
State Board of Education Rule on Textbook Affordability
Annual Textbook Affordability Report
Section 1004.085(7), F.S., requires FCS institutions to report annually, by September 30, current practices for the selection of textbooks and cost-saving innovations to the Chancellor of the Florida College System.
Resource Materials
Archived Materials
- The Florida College System’s Textbook Affordability Workgroup Final Report (2009) (PDF)
- Strategies for Reducing Students’ Textbook Costs, Minnesota Office of Higher Education (PDF)
- Textbook Affordability Workgroup Charter (2019) (Word)
- Memo - Approval of Amended Rule 6A-14.092 (2-10-2022) (PDF)
- Memo – Approval of Amended Rule 6A-14.092 (9-1-2022) (PDF)
- Rule Development Workshop/Technical Assistance Materials: