Lt. Gov. Collins Criticizes Donalds’ Education Plan at Tampa Event
Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins attacked Rep. Byron Donalds’ plan for universal individual learning plans, calling it costly bureaucracy that would defeat the purpose of special education tools.
TAMPA, FLORIDA — Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins unveiled his education agenda Monday, launching a critique of a proposal by U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds to create individual learning plans for every student in the state. The attack came during a press conference at the Centre Club in Tampa, where Collins spoke before dozens of supporters.
Collins directly challenged Donalds’ proposal, which the congressman outlined in an April speech in Miami. According to the Miami Herald, Donalds said he wants to “see that every child in the state has an individual learning plan, so we can chart their trajectory towards mastery by the time they graduate high school.”
Collins Warns of Bureaucratic Burden
“An IEP for everybody is not a good idea,” Collins told supporters gathered at the Tampa venue. “I understand the talking points, but when you get down to the facts of the matter, this plan shifts everything in a negative way. It’s an enormous cost. Massive bureaucracy. Defeats the purpose of IEPs.”
Individual learning plans, also known as individualized education plans or IEPs, are traditionally used for students with special needs. According to the Florida Department of Education, an IEP is a written plan for the special education of students with disabilities.
Speaking with the Florida Phoenix after his remarks, Collins expanded on his concerns about implementing such plans statewide. “The paperwork in the system is going to be one of two things: You’re either going to hand it over to AI … or you’re going to water that down with paperwork, bureaucracy, and it’s not going to be sensible. Either way, it’s not appropriate for our education system,” he said.
Education Advocates Join Collins
Collins was joined at the press conference by several education advocates, including his wife Layla Collins, who was appointed to the State Board of Education by Gov. Ron DeSantis last summer. Also present were Chris and Bernadette Pello, who co-founded Livingstone Academies, three private schools in Hillsborough County that specialize in educating students with high-functioning autism, ADHD, and other learning disabilities.
Layla Collins, drawing on her experience as a former substitute teacher and classroom volunteer, supported her husband’s position. “As far as putting all students on IEPs — as a mom, as a former substitute, as someone who’s been in the classroom, that is unmanageable,” she said during the event.
Republican Primary Battle Intensifies
The education policy dispute highlights the growing competition in the Republican primary race for governor between Collins and Donalds. Both candidates are positioning themselves as education reformers while staking out distinct approaches to Florida’s school system.
Collins’ criticism of Donalds’ proposal represents one of the first major policy disagreements to emerge publicly between the two Republican contenders. The lieutenant governor’s focus on the practical challenges of implementing universal individual learning plans suggests he is trying to portray his opponent’s proposal as well-intentioned but impractical.
The debate over individual learning plans comes as Florida continues to implement various education reforms and as school choice remains a significant issue for Republican primary voters. Both Collins and Donalds will likely continue to refine their education platforms as the gubernatorial primary campaign progresses.
