Biden Administration Wants Florida Accreditation Lawsuit Tossed

Council for Higher Education Accreditation

Accreditation in the News

September 21, 2023

Biden Administration Wants Florida Accreditation Lawsuit Tossed (Inside Higher Ed, September 19, 2023) The Biden administration is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from the state of Florida that argues the country’s accreditation system for higher education is unconstitutional. Florida’s lawsuit is seeking to dismantle the system of accreditation.

The Biden administration is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from the state of Florida that argues the country’s accreditation system for higher education is unconstitutional.

“Florida challenges writ large the constitutionality of the accreditation system that has existed for decades and seeks sweeping relief that would mandate the federalization of education standards,” the administration argued in a motion to dismiss. “But each of Florida’s constitutional claims fails at the outset and should be dismissed.”

Florida’s lawsuit is seeking to dismantle the system of accreditation, which the state has taken issue with. Currently, federal law requires that colleges and universities be accredited by an Education Department–recognized accreditor in order to receive federal student aid such as Pell Grants. Florida law now requires public colleges and universities to change accreditors every 10 years—a process that requires Education Department approval.

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