Quick update for Florida parents and community members: Layla Collins is listed on the agenda for a Florida Senate confirmation hearing for the Florida State Board of Education.

Last updated: January 26, 2026. Next hearing: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 3:30—5:30 p.m. (Florida Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee).

What’s Happening

Layla Collins is listed as an executive appointment on the Florida Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee agenda for confirmation consideration to the Florida State Board of Education.

This is important: she has not been confirmed yet. Being “on the agenda” means the Senate committee is scheduled to review the appointment and may vote to advance it.

Official links:

Expanded Agenda (Florida Senate)
Committee Meeting Notice (Florida Senate)

What Is a Confirmation Hearing?

A confirmation hearing is when Florida state senators review certain appointments made by the Governor to boards and commissions. Senators can ask questions about an appointee’s qualifications and vote on whether the appointment should move forward in the confirmation process.

Confirmation hearings are one of the few public accountability steps in the appointment process. They are designed to ensure appointments to powerful statewide roles are reviewed by elected officials before being finalized.

Appointed vs. Confirmed

These terms get used interchangeably online, but they are not the same thing:

• Appointed = selected by the Governor
• Confirmed = approved by the Florida Senate after review

In other words: an appointment can be announced publicly, but confirmation is the step where the Senate decides whether that person should officially serve.

What “On the Agenda” Means

When an appointee appears on a Senate committee agenda as an Executive Appointment, it typically means:

• ✅ The confirmation is scheduled to be considered
• ❗ The appointment is not final yet
• 📣 This is the key window for public input

If you want senators to raise questions, slow down a confirmation, or oppose it, this is the moment when constituent outreach matters most.

How the Hearing Works (Step-by-Step)

While the exact flow can vary, a Florida Senate confirmation hearing often includes:

• a brief introduction of the appointee
• a short statement from the appointee (sometimes)
• questions from senators
• public comment (varies by meeting)
• a committee vote to advance (or not)

Even if you can’t attend in person, emails and letters are still logged and can influence the questions asked during the hearing.

How to Participate (Contact Senators)

If you want to participate in the confirmation process, you can contact members of the Florida Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee directly.

Tip: Keep your message short, respectful, and specific. Consider including:

• your name and city
• that you are a Florida constituent
• that you are writing about the State Board of Education confirmation agenda item
• what concerns or questions you have
• what you want the senator to do (support or oppose confirmation)

✍️ Write letters NOW (Toolkit)

Sample Subject Line

Vote NO on Layla Collins Confirmation to the State Board of Education

Sample Letter (Copy/Paste)

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a Florida resident from [CITY] in [ZIP]. I am writing to urge you to vote NO on the confirmation of Layla Collins to the Florida State Board of Education.

This confirmation matters because the Florida State Board of Education influences statewide education direction and policy priorities that affect public school students across Florida.

My concern is straightforward: Layla Collins does not have professional education experience in teaching, school leadership, or district administration. Education leadership should be based on qualifications, expertise, and accountability.

Please oppose this confirmation and support qualified education professionals for this role.

Thank you for your time and service.

Sincerely,
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR CITY], FL [ZIP]
[OPTIONAL: Phone Number]

Copy/Paste: Florida Senate Education Committee Emails

Tip: You can copy and paste this list into the “To:” or “BCC:” field of your email.

✍️ Download the Sample Letter (DOCX)

What Happens Next?

After the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee considers the appointment, the confirmation could:

• advance to the next step in the Senate confirmation process,
• be delayed for more discussion or questions, or
• fail to advance.

That’s why contacting senators before the hearing and vote is so important.

FAQ

Is Layla Collins confirmed already?

No. Being listed as an executive appointment on a committee agenda means the confirmation is scheduled to be considered, but it is not final yet.

Where can I see the official agenda and meeting notice?

Expanded Agenda: https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/ED/ExpandedAgenda/6780

Committee Meeting Notice: https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/ED/MeetingNotice/6780

Does emailing senators actually matter?

Yes. Constituent emails and calls are tracked, and they can influence questions asked during the hearing and how senators vote.

What should I say in my email?

Keep it short: identify yourself as a constituent, state what you want them to do, and explain why it matters to you. You can use the toolkit and template above to make it easy.

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Last updated: January 26, 2026. Next hearing: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 3:30—5:30 p.m. (Florida Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee).