ATLANTA (CN) — The federal government’s use of private accreditation agencies to approve public colleges and universities as eligible institutions for financial aid is constitutional, an 11th Circuit panel unanimously ruled Monday in response to Florida’s challenge to the Higher Education Act.

The three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based appeals court upheld a Florida federal judge’s dismissal of the Sunshine State’s lawsuit. Florida officials accused private accrediting agencies of “gatekeeping” billions of dollars in federal funding by independently setting educational quality standards.

The Higher Education Act requires schools to be accredited for students to receive federal aid. Students may receive federal financial assistance only if they attend an accredited institution.

Congress has required accreditation as a condition for federal financial aid eligibility since the 1952 G.I. Bill.

Today, a federal court of appeals has ruled unconstitutional the higher education provisions of a classroom censorship law that unfairly restricted an educators’ ability to teach about concepts like race, gender and more, commonly known as the Florida Stop W.O.K.E. Act.

“Today’s ruling is a victory for academic freedom and the free speech rights of instructors in our classrooms and notwithstanding the lawmakers and Governor DeSantis, the appeals court has acknowledged that we as content experts and scholars have a right to decide the content of our lessons and the curriculum for our classes,” said Robert Cassanello, President of the United Faculty of Florida. “The Governor and lawmakers cannot compel us to repeat state drafted political speech to our students. Our first amendment right to free speech has never and will never hinge on who happens to lead our state.”

“We are glad to see the ruling by the court to deem parts of Florida’s classroom censorship unconstitutional,” said Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association. “For too long, ideas and concepts that encouraged critical thinking were blocked simply because some Florida leaders didn’t agree. This ruling is clear- you cannot limit the rights of others just because you don’t like what they say.”

The proper role of universities in our society has long been a topic of fierce debate. Universities and professors do not always get it right. Neither does the government. But as we said not long ago, “ntellectual and cultural tumult do not last forever, and our Constitution is unique in its commitment to letting the people, rather than the government, find the right equilibrium.”