FCAN Blog
Florida Is Growing. Are Students Keeping Pace?
Nearly 2 million people have moved to Florida since 2020. Over the past four years, the state has added more than 1.2 million jobs, the second-fastest growth rate in the country. Then you look at FAFSA completion rates. The Florida College Access Network’s new...
Three Days, One Mission: Highlights from the 2026 Talent Strong Florida Summit
Florida is the #1 state in the nation for year-over-year FAFSA completion improvement. Last week, the people who helped earn that ranking gathered in Tampa for the 2026 Talent Strong Florida Summit. Over three days, 350 summit attendees heard from national leaders,...
FCAN Announces 2025-26 Florida FAFSA Challenge Winners
The Florida College Access Network (FCAN) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025-2026 Florida FAFSA Challenge, a statewide campaign aimed at increasing the number of high school seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Through...
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...