The 50CAN
Dictionary:
Redefining
Education Reform

2013 CANnual Report

REDEFINING

Ambition (n)

In the fall of 2013, 50.1 million students entered public schools across the nation. 50CAN: The 50 State Campaign for Achievement Now advocates for each child to have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their address.

REDEFINING

Advocacy (n)

How do you define advocacy? To us, advocating means realizing that we all have the power to make a difference in our communities and then taking the extra step to translate that hope into action. See also: gumption.

Gumption (n)

The dedication of our multi-state team of volunteers, board members, donors, staff and partners who never give up in the face of a challenge. See also: advocacy.

Letter from the Editors-in-Chief

Sandra L. Vargas
Chair of the Board
Marc Porter Magee
CEO and Founder

We are relentlessly pursuing the hope of a high-quality education for every child across the United States, regardless of their address, through a network of bottom-up local advocacy campaigns.

Environmentalist Aidan Ricketts once wrote that advocates “are like the immune system of the body politic—they move to the sites of … injustice and aim to fight, repair and heal.” It’s not hard to find examples of injustice in our education system but that's only half the story. Because when you look a little deeper you find ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

These injustices are not only being challenged but changed by accidental advocates who refused to look the other way when confronted with the reality that children in their community were not getting the education they deserved. Collectively these campaigns are transforming the way our education system works so that it works better for all kids.

These success stories, big and small, have convinced us that we are working on the most important issue of our day and approaching it with the most critical missing lever: nonpartisan, research-backed advocacy for policy change, driven forward by diverse local leadership and supported by best-in-the-nation thinking. Powered by an optimism that change is possible, we have grown from an idea born in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of New Haven, Connecticut, into a nationwide organization that finds, connects and supports great local leaders.

2013 was a year of tremendous growth for us. We expanded our work into North Carolina and New Jersey, we recruited new executive directors and new board leadership and we championed legislation in seven statehouses that resulted in 16 critical policy wins. This annual report recognizes our successes, our progress and our path ahead.

We are humbled by the dedication of our local leaders, community advocates, donors and staff and proud to play a role in redefining what’s possible in American education for the next generation of citizens whose possibilities stagger the imagination.

REDEFINING

Commitment (n)

The participation of our community members dedicated to enacting real change in their region. See also: fearless.

Fearless (n)

The parents, teachers, administrators and advocates in our movement willing to fight for the future of our nation’s students. See also: commitment.

SECURED $40.3 million in pre-K funding
HOSTED 2 50CAN U retreats
WROTE 215 pages of innovative, nonpartisan education research
COLLECTED 23,751 signatures for policy change
INTERVIEWED 640 kids about their dreams for a great education
GENERATED 496 media hits in the national press
WON 16 major policy victories
TRAVELED 57,831 miles from state houses to parents’ homes to hear what you had to say

50CAN is, ultimately, about people. 50CAN finds, connects and supports great local leaders to bring about real change to the education landscape through advocacy.

We identify outstanding education leaders in each state and give them an opportunity to lead as executive directors, staff, board members, philanthropists and citizen activists.

We build deep connections between our state campaigns so that we can learn from one another, share strategies, adopt best practices and pool our resources.

We make it easier for our leaders to get results by removing administrative work from their plates and providing best-in-class tools, from reports to databases to graphic design. We aim to match local contributions one to one with funds raised nationally. We also provide trainings on campaign planning, policy, communications and advocacy tactics through our 50CAN University program.

In 2013, 50CAN welcomed two passionate local leaders to the network as executive directors in Maryland and New Jersey. Meet Jason Jason and Janellen! Janellen!

Our work is infused with the passion of our national board of directors. In 2013, outgoing board chair Jonathan Sackler welcomed Sandra L. Vargas to the role of national chair. Sandy previously served as the founding board chair at MinnCAN, where she led philanthropic and advocacy efforts across the state. Sandy is energized to bring 50CAN out of its startup phase and usher in the ambitious plan for our next three years as an organization.

NATIONAL BOARD
OF DIRECTORS

As of December 2013
  • Richard Barth
    CEO, KIPP Foundation
  • Ann Borowiec
    former CEO, JP Morgan Private Wealth Management
  • Delia Pompa
    senior vice president,
    Programs for National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
  • Marc Porter Magee
    president & founder, 50CAN
  • Jonathan Sackler
    outgoing board chair
    director, Purdue Pharma & founder of ConnCAN
  • Dacia Toll
    co-CEO & president,
    Achievement First
  • Sandy Vargas
    incoming chair
    president & CEO, The Minneapolis Foundation

STATE ADVISORY BOARDS

As of December 2013

JERSEYCAN

  • Ann Borowiec
    former CEO, JP Morgan Private Wealth Management
  • Ray Chambers
    UN Special Envoy for Financing the Health MDGs and for Malaria
  • Samuel Cole
    president & COO, Phigital, Inc.
  • Ken Donovan
    trustee, R&C Donovan Family Foundation
  • Mary Farrell
    director, The Maeve Foundation, Inc.
  • Shané Harris
    vice president, The Prudential Foundation
  • Tom Healey
    managing partner, Healey Development
  • Tom Kean
    former Governor of New Jersey
  • Dr. Michael Nettles
    senior vice president, Educational Testing Service
  • Larry Rogers
    treasurer, Better Education for Kids
  • Walter Shipley
    retired chairman & CEO, Chase Manhattan Bank
  • Josh Weston
    honorary chairman, ADP, Inc.

MARYLANDCAN

  • Alice Johnson Cain
    vice president for policy, Teach Plus
  • Jeff Cohen
    CEO, Sylvan Learning
  • Howard Stone
    administrative specialist, Prince George’s County Government
  • Omari Todd
    senior vice president of regional operations, Teach For America

MINNCAN

  • Benson Whitney
    board chair, general partner, Argus Management, Ltd.
  • Michael Ciresi
    partner, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.
  • Alex Cirillo, Jr.
    former vice president, 3M
  • Frank Forsberg
    senior vice president of systems change & innovation, United Way
  • Vernae Hasbargen
    former trustee, Blandin Foundation
  • Jan McDaniel
    chair, World President's Organization-Twin Cities
  • Virginia Morris
    chair, Hubbard Radio LLC
  • Ann Mulholland
    vice president of grants & programs, MN Philanthropy Partners
  • Father Michael O’Connell
    pastor, Church of the Ascension
  • Timothy Penny
    president and CEO, SMIF
  • Addison Piper
    former chairman & CEO, Piper Jaffray & Co.
  • Lee-Ann Stephens
    High Achievement program advocate, St. Louis Park Public Schools

PENNCAN

  • Mark DeSantis
    CEO & co-founder, kWantera
  • Adiah Ferron
    counsel, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
  • Mark Gleason
    executive director, Philadelphia School Partnership
  • Brook Lenfest
    CEO, NetCarrier
  • Marc Mannella
    CEO & founder, KIPP Philadelphia Schools
  • Mike Pearson
    president & CEO, Union Packaging

RI-CAN

  • Ken Block
    president, Simpatico Software Systems, Inc.
  • Anna Cano-Morales
    director of university relations, Roger Williams University
  • Kara Milner
    Rhode Island parent
  • Michael Obel-Omia
    head of school, Paul Cuffee School
  • Gary Sasse
    director, Bryant Institute of Public Leadership

REDEFINING

Places (n)

7 states. 1 national network teaching and learning together. See also: pioneer.

Pioneer (n)

The members of our network who launch bravely into uncharted territory, eager to explore the terrain. See also: places.

Our work is grounded in a community of local advocates who wake up every day committed to expanding education opportunities for kids. Because of this work, together we secured 16 major legislative wins in 2013 for the 7.8 million students enrolled in public school in the seven states where we work: Rhode Island, Minnesota, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

We have championed research-driven legislation across key areas like teacher and principal effectiveness, high-quality pre-K, education funding, college and career readiness and high-quality school choice.

We are honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with the families, teachers, principals and citizens working to make this dream a reality in the daily lives of our children.

Read more about our state work in the spotlight stories. spotlight stories. spotlight stories.

Our work is focused around five key policy principles: policy principles: policy principles: start earlier, expand choices, aim higher, cultivate talent and reach everyone.

    CLICK TO SEE OUR 2013 WINS

    DRAG AND DROP TO SEE OUR 2013 WINS

     

    Start earlier

    Partnered with the MinneMinds coalition to win an historic $40 million investment in early childhood education that will increase access to quality pre-K for MINNESOTA’s low-income 3- and 4-year-olds.

    Rallied to win a $300,000 investment in RHODE ISLAND’s full-day kindergarten program to ensure access to high-quality early education for all kids.

    Expand choices

    Paved the way for Achievement First to enter RHODE ISLAND, and helped ensure the Providence charter school would open on schedule.

    Helped pass a bill that calls for the MARYLAND State Department of Education to conduct a thorough study of charter schools and then recommend proposals to reform the system with a focus on ensuring high-quality options for all kids.

    Boosted accountability in MINNESOTA’s charter school sector by ensuring that charter authorizers are now required to prepare annual reports to track student achievement, as well as operational and financial performance.

    Ensured that MINNESOTA charter schools have more equitable funding and will benefit from per-pupil funding increases.

    Aim higher

    Increased state support for NEW YORK’s early college high schools to $6 million.

    Cultivate talent

    Successfully rallied the MINNESOTA Board of Teaching to grant waivers to incoming Teach for America educators.

    Helped pass legislation that makes student learning and achievement the primary purpose of MINNESOTA charter schools.

    Ensured that failure to demonstrate satisfactory academic achievement for all students is now clearly defined as a reason for contract non-renewal or termination of MINNESOTA charter schools.

    Helped bring a refined focus to the teacher skills exam in MINNESOTA, and initiated a department task force to review licensure skills assessments for the long haul.

    Kept the implementation of MINNESOTA’s new teacher evaluation on track, despite attempts from legislators to delay the much-needed change.

    Helped implement performance-based teacher contracts in place of tenure in NORTH CAROLINA.

    Successfully championed the creation of a NORTH CAROLINA taskforce that will explore matching teacher pay with effectiveness.

    Won annual teacher evaluations in NORTH CAROLINA that take student performance into account.

    Reach everyone

    Successfully urged lawmakers to fulfill the promise of equitable school funding in RHODE ISLAND with an additional $32 million in state aid for education.

    REDEFINING

    Things (n)

    Pioneering tools and strategies that advance our efforts across the country. See also: creativity.

    Creativity (n)

    The knowledge that sometimes the most unlikely tools yield the best results for real change. See also: things.

    50CAN spearheaded trainings for the next generation of local leaders in education advocacy with 50CAN University, a comprehensive professional development system for current and future leaders.

    In 2013, 50CAN University trained six state executive directors in the science and art of advocacy through in-person seminar retreats, online classes and year-round work. The collaboration between state and national teams every week of the year is leveraged to ensure that 50CAN U elevates a series of gatherings into a collaborative culture that informs everything we do.

    With these effective leaders in the field, we provide nonpartisan, original and groundbreaking scholarly research on issues in education reform to guide their work. In 2013, we produced several key findings that shaped the dialogue at the state level, including New Jersey’s Framework for Excellence (JerseyCAN), Native American Student Achievement in Minnesota (MinnCAN) and The Year of the Teacher (CarolinaCAN).

    Our local leaders strived to set the bar high for inclusive and innovative education advocacy. In 2013, we championed for a high-quality education for all kids with an icon campaign in North Carolina, telephone town halls in Rhode Island and Minnesota and legislative briefings across all seven states. Our goal is to listen to as many voices in our states as possible and effectively represent a diverse coalition of citizens committed to change. To this end, we surveyed more than 1,500 residents of Minnesota and Pennsylvania to find out what they had to say about teacher quality, school choice and the future of American education. We also took to the open road in Minnesota and New Jersey, meeting with education advocates across the states to collaborate on how to shape our policies for the future.

    REDEFINING

    Generosity (n)

    The individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations that support our mission with philanthropic gifts. We are humbled and deeply grateful for your outstanding support. See also: game-changers.

    Game-changers (n)

    Those who march to the beat of their own drum, unwilling to settle for the status-quo in education. See also: generosity.

    $100,000 +

    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    The Joyce Foundation
    Medtronic Foundation
    Newark Charter School Fund
    Philadelphia School Partnership
    Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Foundation for Children
    Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock
    Jonathan Sackler
    The Walton Family Foundation
    Janine and Jeff Yass
    Anonymous

    $50,000-$99,999

    Bush Foundation
    General Mills
    Google, Inc. *
    Greater Twin Cities United Way
    The Minneapolis Foundation
    The Prudential Foundation
    Charlie Ryan
    The Saint Paul Foundation
    The WEM Foundation

    $5,000-$49,999

    3M Foundation
    Baltimore Community Foundation
    Ann Borowiec
    Otto Bremer Foundation
    Carlson Family Foundation
    Sam Cole & Marika Alzadon
    The Community Foundation for Prince George’s County
    R & C Donovan Family Foundation
    Educational Testing Services (ETS)
    Frey Foundation
    The Haldeman Family Foundation
    The Healey Family Foundation
    The Hubbard Family Foundation
    The Maeve Foundation
    The MCJ Amelior Foundation
    The Miles Family Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation
    Virginia Morris
    Michael and Jeannie O’Neill
    The Piper Family Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation
    The Walter V. and Judith L. Shipley Family Foundation
    Smikis Foundation
    Travelers Foundation
    Josh & Judy Weston Family Foundation
    Benson and Mary Whitney

    $1,000-$4,999

    Rob Albright
    Brian J. Carlin
    Jeff Cohen
    Carl Kullback *
    Marc Mannella
    Dick and Joyce H. McFarland Family Fund
    Evie McNiff
    Kara Milner
    Fr. Michael O’Connell
    Tim Penny
    Sandra L. Vargas Fund

    * in-kind contribution

    View our previous 990s here

    FINANCIALS

    2013 balance sheet

    Total assets
    $3,511,124
    Total liabilities
    -$196,690

    Total net assets
    $3,314,434

    REDEFINING

    Pride (n)

    50CAN is proud to recognize our advocates, leaders, supporters and friends through this annual report. Your continued support of our work defines the future of education policy. We look forward to our work together in the future. For all that you have done in 2013 and beyond, thank you.


    Share the #CANnualReport

    SPOTLIGHT ON RI-CAN

    Excuse me operator, Mr. Mayor on the line in Rhode Island

    Rhode Island is a small state with a big desire to do more to help all of its kids succeed. Wherever executive director Christine Lopes Metcalfe traveled in the state, she heard the same desire from ordinary citizens to make their voices heard on education issues. Inspired by the New England tradition of direct democracy through small town meetings, she decided to create her own town hall meeting on education—with a little help from the electronic safe.

    That’s how she found herself on the line with more than 8,000 residents of the Ocean State who dialed in to a telephone town hall for a conversation with Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee and Superintendent Phil Thornton on September 5th. During the call, our guests engaged with voters from all over the state, answered questions and discussed what people could do to help

    That’s how she found herself on the line with more than 8,000 residents of the Ocean State who dialed in to a telephone town hall for a conversation with Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee and Superintendent Phil Thornton on September 5th. During the call, our guests engaged with voters from all over the state, answered questions and discussed what people could do to help strengthen their communities' schools. From art programs, charter schools, Common Core State Standards and funding challenges, the town hall covered a wide range of topics affecting Rhode Island students.

    LISTEN TO THE FULL LIVE RECORDING

    strengthen their communities' schools. From art programs, charter schools, Common Core State Standards and funding challenges, the town hall covered a wide range of topics affecting Rhode Island students.

    The town hall succeeded first in bringing the voices of citizen activists throughout the state directly to elected officials, and also in creating a community not defined by geographic boundaries but rather defined in the steadfast dedication to establish statewide change in education. To that end, Christine looks forward to building a lasting model of successful education in Rhode Island with the momentum and vision garnered from Rhode Island’s own residents.

    As caller Theresa from Valley Falls, RI put it,
    “This is about our children and improving their future…It’s important for people to open their minds and get behind what needs to be done.”

    SPOTLIGHT ON MinnCAN

    1,839 miles of conversations in Minnesota

    MinnCAN executive director Daniel Sellers and deputy director Nicholas Banovetz spent the latter half of 2013 on an ambitious 19 city listening tour through the Gopher State, visiting 48 classrooms, speaking with more than 450 students, teachers and principals and powering their travels with a total of 144 cups of coffee.

    The goal of this ambitious trip was to find changing-the-odds schools across Minnesota, learn from them what works, and use those lessons to inform education policy at the capitol.

    While no one school was the same, there were common themes between these schools that stood out. These teachers and principals believe deeply that a high-quality education starts with a strong vision and high expectations for all kids.

    Perhaps Ken Scarbrough from Cloquet put it best when he told us how his region is tackling the issue of improving outcomes across a diverse population of students with different styles and needs; “a lot of the credit has to go to students, supportive families, caring and hardworking teachers, and above all else, collaboration in the community. Essentially, we all do everything we can to make life better for our kids.”

    The MinnCAN team came away from their road trip armed with 182 pages of field notes and dozens of ideas for policymakers from many different citizens on how to ensure that every Minnesota child receives a high-quality education, regardless of their address. Most importantly, as they prepared for their 2014 campaign, they brought with them a deeper understanding of education issues not just in the Twin Cities, but across the diverse regions of Minnesota as a whole.

    Visit the road to success site

    SPOTLIGHT ON NYCAN

    Starting early to close the gaps in the Empire State

    In 2013, NYCAN Executive Director Julie Marlette led the challenge for New York to close achievement gaps in classrooms through high-quality pre-K. As a senior analyst in the New York State Senate, Julie saw firsthand the difference that the right research can make in ensuring policies are guided by the facts. It was this belief in the power of research that encouraged Julie to focus on policies that would help New York kids start earlier.

    NYCAN's original report, 'Start Early to Close Gaps' demonstrates that high-quality pre-K programs narrow achievement gaps and push low-income children into the middle class, with big returns on dollars invested for both the state and school systems. The report garnered significant media attention throughout the year– contributing to over 80 NYCAN media hits in 2013.

    NYCAN is proud to serve as a leading forum for people and policy to come together to make major gains for kids.

    EXPLORE THE POLICY BRIEF

    SPOTLIGHT ON PennCAN

    Giving voice to teachers living through LIFO in Pennsylvania

    through 2013 to collect stories of teachers like Jamie and Dominique and bring statewide attention to the loss of high-quality, effective teachers in the classroom. These teachers shared their stories in Pennsylvania newspapers like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Philadelphia Inquirer through op-ed pieces, letters to elected officials and small gatherings around the state.

    The experiences of these passionate teachers moved State Representative Tim Krieger to introduce HB 1722: The Protect Excellent Teachers Act in October 2013. HB 1722 calls for reform in the furlough decision process for Pennsylvania public school districts by ending the current policy of last-in, first-out or LIFO in school districts across the state. PennCAN was proud to have the opportunity to work closely with the sponsors of the bill in support of both a statewide press conference and to ensure that the perspective of these teachers was heard in the house education committee hearing. The hearing also included supportive testimony from a broad array of groups, including the Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Philadelphia Education Fund, the New Teacher Project and the Philadelphia School Partnership.

    This critical first phase of the work—from helping teachers tell their stories to laying the groundwork for a legislative solution—set the stage for 2014, where ending LIFO is positioned to be a top priority of the House Education Committee in their education legislation negotiations.

    From 2012-2013, Pennsylvania school districts laid off 2,600 teachers. What’s worse, the layoffs were made solely on the basis of teachers’ seniority without any consideration given to their performance in the classroom. Factors like how hard a teacher worked and what they helped their kids accomplish were considered irrelevant in the eyes of the state.

    For Jamie Passinault, returning to her hometown of Pittsburgh to teach after years in Colorado public schools was an exciting opportunity. She taught fifth- and sixth-grade science for one year before receiving notification that due to her lack of seniority, she was being laid off during budget cuts.
    "It was an ending moment," Ms. Passinault said. "I wasn't ready to leave the classroom."

    Dominique, known by her students as "Ms. D," fared only slightly better. After transitioning to one of Philadelphia’s most challenging high schools, more than 60 percent of the teachers in her school were laid off.

    PennCAN’s executive director Jonathan Cetel saw the damage this broken approach to layoffs was having on schools and decided to do something about it. It was clear that the voices of these teachers needed to be heard if the public—and our policymakers—were going to fix the system. PennCAN worked

    From 2012-2013, Pennsylvania school districts laid off 2,600 teachers. What’s worse, the layoffs were made solely on the basis of teachers’ seniority without any consideration given to their performance in the classroom. Factors like how hard a teacher worked and what they helped their kids accomplish were considered irrelevant in the eyes of the state.

    For Jamie Passinault, returning to her hometown of Pittsburgh to teach after years in Colorado public schools was an exciting opportunity. She taught fifth- and sixth-grade science for one year before receiving notification that due to her lack of seniority, she was being laid off during budget cuts.
    "It was an ending moment," Ms. Passinault said. "I wasn't ready to leave the classroom."

    Dominique, known by her students as "Ms. D," fared only slightly better. After transitioning to one of Philadelphia’s most challenging high schools, more than 60 percent of the teachers in her school were laid off.

    PennCAN’s executive director Jonathan Cetel saw the damage this broken approach to layoffs was having on schools and decided to do something about it. It was clear that the voices of these teachers needed to be heard if the public—and our policymakers—were going to fix the system. PennCAN worked through 2013 to collect stories of teachers like Jamie and Dominique and bring statewide attention to the loss of high-quality, effective teachers in the classroom. These teachers shared their stories in Pennsylvania newspapers like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Philadelphia Inquirer through op-ed pieces, letters to elected officials and small gatherings around the state.

    The experiences of these passionate teachers moved State Representative Tim Krieger to introduce HB 1722: The Protect Excellent Teachers Act in October 2013. HB 1722 calls for reform in the furlough decision process for Pennsylvania public school districts by ending the current policy of last-in, first-out or LIFO in school districts across the state. PennCAN was proud to have the opportunity to work closely with the sponsors of the bill in support of both a statewide press conference and to ensure that the perspective of these teachers was heard in the house education committee hearing. The hearing also included supportive testimony from a broad array of groups, including the Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Philadelphia Education Fund, the New Teacher Project and the Philadelphia School Partnership.

    This critical first phase of the work—from helping teachers tell their stories to laying the groundwork for a legislative solution—set the stage for 2014, where ending LIFO is positioned to be a top priority of the House Education Committee in their education legislation negotiations.

    SPOTLIGHT ON CarolinaCAN

    Proving what’s possible in North Carolina

    North Carolina opened the door to public charter schools in 1996 to provide North Carolina parents with more choices when it comes to their kids’ schooling and to help raise the bar for what was possible for all public schools in the Tar Heel state. But 17 years later, despite the hard work of teachers in 127 schools on behalf of 50,000 students, those stories were often not being told.

    CarolinaCAN sought to change that, believing that one of the best ways to ensure that charter schools fulfill their potential was to bring what was working in the most successful schools to the wider public. Armed with a video camera and a lot of questions, executive director Julie Kowal and filmmaker Janice Smith crisscrossed the state to meet with teachers, principals, parents and students at these amazing schools.

    The result was CarolinaCAN’s Prove What’s Possible campaign. What we found was that charter school teachers across the state are setting new and ambitious standards for what is possible in public education. Leaders are using the charter school model to provide life-changing opportunities for students who might have fallen through the cracks in traditional public schools. While the majority of North Carolina schools struggle to meet the needs of low-income and minority students, these public charter schools are putting them on the path to college.

    By highlighting excellence and learning from schools that prove what’s possible in public education, CarolinaCAN is working to raise the bar for what we expect from all public schools and build support for pursuing public policies that prioritize the growth of charter schools that are mission-driven to help all students achieve at high levels.

    SPOTLIGHT ON JerseyCAN

    The power of volunteers in New Jersey’s inaugural campaign

    The work we do would not be possible without the visionary leadership and passion of our state advisory boards. In New Jersey, we knew we needed advocates who understood the unique education issues in the state, and who would be willing to grow the movement in the Garden State from the ground up.

    JerseyCAN successfully launched in 2013 thanks to the dynamic guidance of an exemplary board, co-chaired by former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean and former CEO of JP Morgan Private Wealth Management Ann Borowiec. Both co-chairs played a critical role not only in the founding of JerseyCAN, but also in shaping the campaign’s inaugural research report: A Framework for Excellence. The guidance and expertise of the advisory board allowed the JerseyCAN team to focus its first year on coalition building amongst their civic and business colleagues and to reach a diverse population of citizen activists in New Jersey whose voices had not yet been heard on education issues.

    See what the board has to say

    Governor Tom Kean, co-chair
    “I'm serving as the co-chair of JerseyCAN because I believe we need research-based policy solutions to ensure that all students in New Jersey have access to excellent schools that prepare them for higher education and long-term economic success. Using evidence and policy analysis, we need to look at what's worked in New Jersey and other states and replicate those models.”

    Ann Borowiec, co-chair
    “Upon learning the facts about education in New Jersey, I recognize that we have both moral and economic obligations to improve the quality of education for New Jersey students, particularly in the neediest communities. I helped to launch JerseyCAN because we need a strong, independent research and policy voice to arm policymakers, parents and the public with information and tools needed to change the trajectory for New Jersey students.”

    SPOTLIGHT ON MarylandCAN

    A fresh look at apples and chalkboards

    With 12 years at the helm of KIPP Baltimore, MarylandCAN executive director Jason Botel knew that the facts about public education often get lost among party politics and rhetoric. MarylandCAN is committed to providing non-partisan resources that parents, teachers, students and advocates can all use to stay informed. In 2013, Jason took the opportunity to invite feedback from citizens across the state about what would better inform them on issues in education as a whole.

    After taking the pulse of the communities he advocates for, Jason incorporated their visions into re-designed State of Education reports. The new, interactive reports tell the story beneath the work of grassroots advocacy: that we must start with the facts and build a solid foundation of understanding before we can make real progress for the next generation of thought leaders and game-changers.

    The dynamic report provides community members with the information they need to accurately compare their state against the country, and to contribute to the dialogue on education policy in Maryland. Explore Maryland’s cutting edge State of Education report from 2013 here.

    See the full report