Florida is taking two of the country’s largest textbook publishers to court, accusing them of systematically overcharging school districts in thousands of transactions and violating state laws meant to protect taxpayers and students.
Attorney General James Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the lawsuit Tuesday against McGraw Hill and Savvas Learning Company, saying the companies engaged in deceptive practices that cost districts millions. The complaint, filed in Leon County Circuit Court under the Florida False Claims Act, alleges at least 5,900 separate violations of state textbook pricing rules.
“Our lawsuit exposes a textbook case of corporate greed—companies charging Florida schools more than the law allows, pocketing the difference, and sticking taxpayers with the bill,” Uthmeier said in a press release. “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.”
Florida law requires publishers to give the state the lowest price offered anywhere in the country, automatically extend discounts provided to other states or districts, and supply free instructional materials when they are offered elsewhere. State investigators say the defendants ignored those obligations, charging some Florida districts significantly more than others and withholding price reductions that should have been applied across the board.
One cited example accuses McGraw Hill of overbilling Osceola County more than $279,000 for a single textbook adoption. In another case, a title discounted for Miami-Dade was sold at higher prices to nine other districts, producing more than $250,000 in alleged excess charges. Officials say such practices created a pattern of inflated costs that collectively burdened schools and taxpayers.
The state is seeking treble damages, which would triple the amount of proven overcharges, as well as civil penalties. Depending on how the violations are calculated, financial exposure for the two companies could range between $37.5 million and $60.5 million.
Uthmeier described the suit as a “textbook case of corporate greed,” while DeSantis said it reflects his administration’s broader push to hold education vendors accountable and ensure resources are directed into classrooms.
