University of Missouri System continues to fight release of syllabi

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The National Council on Teacher Quality is seeking course syllabi under Missouri's public records law as part of a nationwide effort to monitor what aspiring teachers learn at college.

The University of Missouri system continues to oppose public release of records related to teacher training.

A Washington-based education group, The National Council on Teacher Quality, filed a civil lawsuit against the four-campus system in Boone County Circuit Court. The group is seeking course syllabi under Missouri's public records law as part of a nationwide effort to monitor what aspiring teachers learn at college. The results will be published next year in U.S. News & World Report.

Lawyers for the two sides appeared in court Monday for a hearing on a request by the teacher watchdog group for an immediate ruling. Instead, Circuit Judge Kevin Crane told them to exchange pre-trial information and return at a later date.

A university lawyer argued that federal copyright law protects the course material.