News
FLAME Launches Statewide Mathematics Network to Strengthen Collaboration, Curriculum, and Professional Learning
On October 21–22, 2025, the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½â€™s College of Education and the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching hosted a two-day convening to officially launch the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Association for Mathematics Excellence (FLAME)—a statewide network designed to connect °®ÎÛ´«Ã½â€™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 °®ÎÛ´«Ã½â€™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 °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ to build relationships, align priorities, and plan future strategic collaborations—especially in preparation for °®ÎÛ´«Ã½â€™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:
- °®ÎÛ´«Ã½'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
- °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ (USF)
- University of °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ (UF)
- °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ State University (FSU)
- University of Central °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ (UCF)
- °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
- °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ International University (FIU)
- Miami Dade College
State and district partners
- °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ 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 °®ÎÛ´«Ã½.