INVERNESS, Fla. — A whistleblower who obtained textbook purchase orders from more than a dozen Florida school districts alleges that big publishers violated state law by offering special deals to large districts.
The ABC Action News I-Team learned that similar activities were uncovered by an audit of Florida Department of Education textbook purchasing nearly 20 years ago.
“There’s my cap,” said Citrus High School senior Alexandria Snyder, as she prepares to receive her diploma.
It’s the latest step in her goal of becoming a teacher.
Along the way, she and her classmates have read thousands of pages from textbooks funded by taxpayers.
Snyder said at any given time, her backpack is filled with books.
“I guess depending on how many classes you have and which classes you have, you can have up to four,” Snyder said.
Teaching materials in her school range from workbooks which are replaced every year, to software downloaded onto iPads, to traditional textbooks purchased by the district once every five years.
Alexandria's English language arts textbook was purchased by the district from publishing giant Savvas.
Records show Citrus County Schools paid between $138 and $143 for each Savvas English language arts instructional set, depending on the grade level.
State law says all districts should pay the lowest price
The prices of all textbooks are negotiated by the Florida Department of Education.
Under state law, publishers “may not exceed the lowest price” at which they’re offered...
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