ConnCAN

In this week's new Ed Talk, Keith Jacobs, the Director of Provider Development for @StepUp4Students, discusses how school choice and customization have changed education in the State of Florida. A Tampa native, @AlphaKJ813 spent 14 years in both K-12 district and charter education as both a traditional public school educator and administrator. Keith is a former Teacher of the Year and Administrator of the Year nominee and serves as an education choice advocate, trainer and national speaker for education equity.

From major investments in charter schools to new scholarships for the next generation of teachers, Connecticut saw some BIG wins on the education front during the recently completed legislative session. Here are just a few of the wins the @conncan team helped secure in 2026.

New Education Talk alert 🚨 Featured this week on our 50CAN Education Talk series is Dr. Angela Watson on the common misconceptions of families that decide to homeschool and what the future of homeschooling looks like. Angela is a senior research fellow at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy and an assistant research professor at the @JHUeducation. Angela's research examines the impact of schooling and learning, with an emphasis on homeschool and informal learning options, on academic and social emotional outcomes. She is the creator of the Homeschool Hub and the director of the Homeschool Research Lab, both housed within the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy.

@Conncan Executive Director Steven Hernández spoke at a press conference alongside Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, where he was appointed to the state's Blue Ribbon Commission to address state funding in K-12 education.

So the real question: What are we willing to adopt… and what aren’t we? 🎧 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Mississippi’s being called an “education miracle.” But is it a miracle… or just what happens when a state gets serious about: 1. How kids learn to read 2. Coaching teachers 3. Tracking growth (especially lowest-performing students) 4. Staying focused on outcomes

We need to restructure math coursework sequencing so that ALL CT students build advanced mathematical thinking that is relevant after high school. That's why @EducateCT has joined the Launch Years Initiative at @utdanacenter. Learn more: #EveryKidCountsCT" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">utdanacenter.org/blog/launch-ye…

Statewide, less than half of students are meeting expectations on the state's standardized assessment for math. We need a new vision for math in CT. Read our plan here: conncan.org/publication/ev… #EveryKidCountsCT

Louisiana’s 4th-grade math results were in the top five in the nation for growth on the #NAEP. One of the state’s key levers for change was professional development. Learn more from @educationweek's coverage here: tinyurl.com/3485j4st #EveryKidCountsCT

As @Solek1984 puts it: “Under half of our kids are proficient in math—and it’s even worse for kids of color and those in poverty. It’s a crisis.” This is a step forward. Now it has to deliver. @FOX61News @AnnettemTV fox61.com/article/news/e…

Check out @ExcelinEd's tool to help policymakers transform math education! excelined.org/2025/11/24/int… #EveryKidCountsCT

Our report moves beyond incremental tweaks, offering a multi-phased, long-term vision that will help our legislature to propel Connecticut students into the future of math education. Read here: conncan.org/publication/ev… #EveryKidCountsCT

Did you know: Alabama established an Office of Mathematics Improvement to overhaul K-5 math in 2022. In 2024, it was the only state to improve its math scores on the #NAEP, compared to 2019. We can do this in CT! Write-up from the @Hunt_Institute hunt-institute.org/resources/2025…

Connecticut's math outcomes aren’t where they should be. We need a comprehensive, multi-year plan to ensure #EveryKidCountsCT. Read our report here: conncan.org/publication/ev…

Our new report on modernizing math in CT maps out a comprehensive policy plan, divided into three phases, to enhance academic rigor, revamp teacher training, and modernize pathways into the postsecondary world. @EducateCT @EastConn @atomic_math @AMTENews conncan.org/publication/ev…

In 2023, the Connecticut State Board of Education unanimously endorsed a Joint Statement on Equity in Mathematics, developed by educators, school leaders, coaches, and higher education partners across Connecticut. Read their important work: portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Ma…

Read more from @FiftyCAN : 50can.org/wp-content/upl…

(3) Show the impact. "we need external measures that let a student prove their mastery of material. This is especially true when mastery can lead to jobs or college credit."

Important considerations for states working to improve math policy, from our national team at @FiftyCAN 🧵 #EveryKidCountsCT