CONNCAN ANNUAL REPORT 2010
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CONNCAN PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR CONNECTICUT CITIZENS TO SPEAK UP FOR KIDS EFFECTIVELY. PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE LEADING THE REST OF THE WORLD, AND CONNECTICUT’S STUDENTS SHOULD BE AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK. There’s no question that Connecticut has some outstanding examples of excellence among its public schools, but without smart public policy, our students most in need - and even our top students—will continue to be served by a system that is mediocre at best overall. Changing this reality requires a sustained approach to reform that suffuses state government, spreads throughout school districts, and inspires a broad community of stakeholders. Without undertaking the type of structural change we’re working towards, Connecticut’s worst-in-the-nation achievement gap will remain in place. We don’t build schools or train teachers. Instead, ConnCAN runs results-oriented advocacy campaigns.
THE THREE PILLARS OF OUR WORK ARE: RESEARCH AND POLICY ConnCAN’s original research provides the timely and in-depth analysis of public education in Connecticut that provides the foundation for our policy recommendations. Our online tools, such as School Report Cards, which assign a letter grade to every public school in the state, serve as essential resources for parents and other stakeholders, and help shape the statewide conversation about public education. COMMUNICATIONS AND MOBILIZATION ConnCAN informs citizens through earned media, electronic communications and social networking, publications, on-the-ground community mobilization, partnerships with like-minded civic and community groups, and events. Then, we make it easy for Connecticut’s growing cadre of education reform advocates to take meaningful action, both online and in person. ADVOCACY FOR POLICY CHANGE Grounded in our research and policy work, ConnCAN’s expert staff works with our citizen advocates and key state officials to develop and enact meaningful education reform through both legislative and administrative action.