FCAN Blog
Why The Talent Strong Florida Summit Matters Now
More than 300 practitioners from K–12, colleges, nonprofits, workforce organizations, and philanthropy are gathering at the Talent Strong Florida Summit on May 6-8 in Tampa with a shared purpose: to close Florida’s attainment gap. The convening is designed to align...
2026 Florida Legislative Session Policy Recap
New laws would expand the Guardian Program, create advanced course incentives, standardize GPA calculations, and address workforce shortages. Florida's 2026 Legislative Session concluded on the 60th and final day without passage of the state budget. The House and...
Welcoming Two New Leaders to the FCAN Board of Advisors
Florida College Access Network (FCAN) is excited to announce the addition of two leaders to our Board of Advisors: Judith Fletcher and Dr. Christopher (Chris) M. Mullin. Both bring deep experience in philanthropy, education, and public policy, along with a shared...
AmeriCorps Has a Role in College Access. Here’s What’s Happening in Florida.
This week is National AmeriCorps Week — a moment to recognize the Americans who serve their communities through one of the country’s most flexible federal service programs. Some Florida organizations are already using AmeriCorps to connect students to college. More...
Student Fellows Visit Tallahassee During FCAN Days at the Capitol
Student fellows supported by the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) traveled to Tallahassee, Florida, from January 19–21 to participate in the fifth annual FCAN Days at the Capitol. This immersive program equips students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence...
Tampa Bay Unlocks a Billion-Dollar Opportunity: How College Access Drives Regional Prosperity
What is a 10% increase in college enrollment worth to Tampa Bay? Try nearly $1 billion a year. That was the headline finding when business leaders, educators, philanthropists, and civic champions gathered at Community Foundation Tampa Bay this month to explore how...
TRIO Programs in 2025: A Turbulent Year, Uncertainty Ahead
Federally-funded TRIO programs have helped generations of Floridians access college. After several challenges in 2025, the future of the program is uncertain. TRIO is a collection of federally-funded college access programs that, for more than 60 years, have helped...
A Ground-Up Model for Data-Driven Student Success: Lessons From CFEED
A new report released by the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) examines the Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database (CFEED) Model, a regional data sharing system that provides insights into how to support student progress throughout pre K-12 and into...
Florida’s Postsecondary Attainment Inches Forward but the Finish Line Is Still Ahead
Florida has made tremendous strides toward its goal of 60% postsecondary attainment since 2019, under the guidance of the SAIL to 60 Initiative and the direction provided by Governor DeSantis, first outlined in Executive Order 19-31. Many objectives outlined by the...
What 40 Florida Education Leaders Told Us About Emergency Aid, and What Happens Next
A Powerful Day of Collaboration Points the Way Forward More than 40 education leaders from 22 Florida institutions convened Feb. 3 to develop strategies for supporting students who face financial emergencies during college. The daylong workshop produced near-unanimous...