History

Inspired by the breakthrough success of a number of Connecticut’s urban public schools in dramatically raising student achievement, ConnCAN was established in January 2005 with the goal of providing every child in our state, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, with a great public school.

In its initial year of operations, led by its executive director and first employee, Alex Johnston, ConnCAN worked with parents throughout the state to understand the challenges facing Connecticut’s public schools and with a number of innovative school leaders to better understand how to replicate their success.

By 2008, ConnCAN had grown to a dozen full-time employees, more than 40 board and advisory board members, and more than 10,000 supporters across the state and the nation.