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FLAME Launches Statewide Mathematics Network to Strengthen Collaboration, Curriculum, and Professional Learning
On October 21–22, 2025, the University of South Florida’s College of Education and the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching hosted a two-day convening to officially launch the Florida Association for Mathematics Excellence (FLAME)—a statewide network designed to connect Florida’s universities, academic centers, and K–12 district partners to strengthen mathematics teaching and learning across the state.
This initiative is supported through funding from the Gates Foundation, strengthening Florida’s ability to build a coordinated statewide approach to mathematics improvement through research, collaboration, and high-quality professional learning.
The convening brought together mathematics education leaders and partners from across Florida to build relationships, align priorities, and plan future strategic collaborations—especially in preparation for Florida’s upcoming instructional materials adoption cycle. Through collaborative conversation and planning, participants explored ways higher education and district partners can work together to expand access to high-quality instructional materials, research-based professional learning, and coordinated support for teachers and school systems.
Two days of strategic, research-based convening
The FLAME summit opened with a welcome from Dr. Jenifer Jasinski Schneider, Dean of the USF College of Education, followed by vision setting and a series of structured working sessions.
Across the two days, the agenda was designed to move participants from shared understanding to actionable network planning. Sessions included:
- Florida's mathematics landscape and district reflections
- Mathematics curriculum needs, including state and district adoption processes
- High-quality instructional materials and professional learning
- Strategic plans for networked learning
- Overcoming barriers and connections to policy, culminating in a wrap-up discussion and next steps
Statewide participation and cross-sector collaboration
A key strength of the FLAME convening was the diversity of representation across K–12 systems, higher education, and mathematics-focused centers and partners. Institutions represented included:
Universities and higher education partners
- University of South Florida (USF)
- University of Florida (UF)
- Florida State University (FSU)
- University of Central Florida (UCF)
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
- Florida International University (FIU)
- Miami Dade College
State and district partners
- Florida Department of Education
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- Manatee County School District
- Pinellas County Schools
- Pasco County Schools
- Seminole County Public Schools
- Panhandle Area Educational Consortium
Academic and professional learning centers represented
- David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching
- Lastinger Center for Learning
- Learning Systems Institute
- STEM Transformation Institute
- UCF School of Teacher Education/College of Community Innovation and Education
- Lockheed Martin/UCF Mathematics and Science Academy
As FLAME continues into 2026, the Gates Foundation-supported network will build on this initial convening to deepen statewide partnership, strengthen professional learning systems, and support continuous improvement in mathematics instruction across Florida.