Our Story

By the early 2010s, Florida had become known as a leader in education reform. Graduation rates were climbing, and more than half of graduates went on to college. The state adopted more rigorous academic benchmarks to prepare students for success in college, careers, and life.

But translating those ambitious standards into classroom practice was a different challenge entirely. “Passing statewide policy might feel like the finish line, but to change what students experience in schools every day, it’s all about turning that policy into support and action at the classroom level,” says Mandy Clark, Impact Florida’s president and founder.

By 2015, districts who invested in robust progress monitoring were discovering sobering trends in representative sample classrooms across the state: while teachers and school leaders felt ready for the new standards, instruction wasn’t meeting the benchmarks. Researchers found that only 7 percent of classrooms were fully implementing the instructional shifts required of standards, and most students spent their time on assignments below grade level.

“Learning that instruction across the state had changed so little despite the new standards was a huge epiphany for me,” Clark recalls. “Unless policies are implemented in the classroom with fidelity, kids don’t benefit.”

Since our launch in 2019, Impact Florida has helped shift classroom practice, strengthen district systems, and advance state policy, bringing excellent instruction to more students across the state.

Recognizing that teacher quality is the most important school-based contributor to student success, we developed what would become our guiding framework: the Five Conditions That Support Great Teaching—shared vision, high-quality materials, empowered stakeholders, effective professional learning, and the intentional use of data for improvement.

Through cadres and collaborative learning networks, we’re working with educators to use data, feedback, and continuous improvement to drive lasting change. The results are clear: more students enrolled in rigorous courses, stronger instruction, and a policy environment that enables better teaching and learning for all.

The urgency that sparked Impact Florida’s founding remains just as acute today—and we know that lasting progress in education takes all of us. Across Florida, many organizations are making powerful contributions to improve teaching and learning, and we’re proud to work alongside them. 

“The leaders, educators, and partners we work with inspire me every day,” Clark reflects. “They care deeply, and they keep striving to improve. Our role is to make sure they have the support they need so every child can succeed.”

Impact Florida remains committed to amplifying their impact and sustaining the call for great instruction in every classroom, for every student, every day.