Can My Florida Cosmetology School Make Me Sign a No-Reviews Agreement?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I attend a cosmetology school, and the director recently created a new rule requiring us to sign a document stating that, while we attend and after we graduate, we won't talk about the school, leave reviews, or do anything of that nature. Do I have to sign it? If I don't sign it and they try to expel me or something like that, would that violate my First Amendment rights?
Attorney Answer
You generally aren't legally required to sign a non-disparagement agreement, but a private school can typically set its own enrollment conditions, so refusing could carry consequences within the school's authority unless a specific law protects you, and one likely does here.
The First Amendment limits what the government can do, not private businesses or private schools. If your cosmetology school is a private institution, the First Amendment doesn't directly stop it from asking you to sign an agreement as a condition of enrollment, much the way it wouldn't stop most private employers from having you sign things as a condition of a job. If it's a public school instead, like a program run through a public community or technical college, the First Amendment applies much more directly, and a rule punishing you for truthful public comments would face serious legal problems.
Either way, there's a separate federal law that likely helps you regardless of whether the school is public or private: the Consumer Review Fairness Act (15 U.S.C. § 45b). It makes clauses in standardized, take-it-or-leave-it form contracts void if they try to bar or restrict a customer's ability to post a truthful, honest review about the goods or services they received. A sign-this-or-else document handed to every student is exactly that kind of contract. Since you're paying the school for a service, an agreement that broadly bans you from ever leaving a review likely runs into this law, even if it doesn't ban you from talking about the school more generally.
What you can do
1. Read the actual document closely before deciding anything, since the specific wording, a ban on false statements versus a ban on all reviews, changes the analysis significantly. 2. Ask the school in writing why the policy exists and what happens if you don't sign, so there's a record of their answer. 3. Keep a copy of the document whether or not you sign it. 4. Talk to an attorney if the school threatens expulsion or any penalty for not signing, since that specific action is what would need to be challenged.
Because the exact wording of the agreement and the school's public or private status both matter, this is general legal information, not legal advice, and a local Florida attorney can review the actual document and tell you your real options.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter if my cosmetology school is public or private?
Yes. The First Amendment applies directly to public schools and government-run programs, giving you stronger direct protection there. Private schools aren't bound by the First Amendment the same way, though other laws, like the Consumer Review Fairness Act, can still protect you.
Can the school really expel me for refusing to sign?
It depends on the school's enrollment policies and whether refusing to sign is treated as a condition of continued enrollment. If they do try to expel you specifically for refusing, that decision itself may be challengeable, especially if the clause you refused to sign is unenforceable under federal law.
What if I already signed the agreement? Am I stuck?
Not necessarily. A clause that violates the Consumer Review Fairness Act is void even if you signed it, meaning it generally can't be used against you for posting a truthful review. An attorney can review the specific language to confirm.
