Florida Law Restricts General Education Courses on Race and Gender

Florida's 2023 law SB 266 bars general education courses from focusing on identity politics or theories that systemic racism, sexism, or privilege are built into institutions. The measure applies to the 40 public colleges and universities in the state.

Students can no longer earn required credits from those classes. The law also created a post-tenure performance review that allows sanctions or termination for faculty who violate the content restrictions. One professor was suspended last year for discussing gender in class.

266 was introduced by state Sen.

Erin Grall and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Officials said the narrow scope on required general education courses was designed to avoid the legal issues that blocked an earlier broader measure. A federal judge had described the prior law as unconstitutional. Florida maintains that it can set standards for required courses without infringing on faculty speech in elective classes.

Florida sociologist Evan Lauteria called the restrictions fascist. Robert Cassanello, president of United Faculty of Florida, said lawmakers are determining curriculum despite not being professional historians. Melissa Wilde, a University of Pennsylvania sociologist running for president of the American Sociological Association, said the field must engage conservative explanations to remain credible.

She added that sociology needs to become less political. Other Republican-led states have taken similar steps. Texas reviewed thousands of general education classes and canceled some focused on gender and race. Tennessee banned teaching certain divisive concepts two years ago.