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Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Congratulates its Member, Seacoast Collegiate High School, on the Grand Opening of its New School Facilities at Northwest Florida State College South Walton Center
FCPCS Executive Director Sherard Parker Attended the Grand Opening Event
PHOTO CAPTION: Supporters of Seacoast Collegiate High School and others attend a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of the newly-expanded Northwest Florida State College South Walton Center, home to facilities for Seacoast Collegiate High School. / Courtesy Seacoast Collegiate High School
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (September 3, 2025) – The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) applauds a new era of education in Walton County with the grand opening of Northwest Florida State College South Walton Center, home to facilities for FCPCS-member Seacoast Collegiate High School, part of Seaside School.
FCPCS Executive Director Sherard Parker attended the recent ribbon cutting and grand opening, and congratulated school leaders.
“Seaside School is one of Florida’s first and most successful public charter schools, and FCPCS congratulates Seacoast Collegiate High School on its new facilities at Northwest Florida State College South Walton Center,” said Parker. “Seacoast Collegiate High School students will be the big winners here, as they take advantage of this state-of-the-art facility geared toward learning for the future.”
According to a press release from the school, the new facility represents a dynamic partnership between Seacoast Collegiate High School and Northwest Florida State College. The College will use its facilities to provide high school students with direct-access to college level instruction, labs, workforce training and advanced academic pathways.
The Center will serve more than 500 students across the high school and college this fall, with the capacity for more significant growth in the coming years. The expansion comes during a historic milestone year for the Seaside School, celebrating its 30th year in operation.
“This center is more than a building, it’s a bold investment in the future of Walton County,” said Tom Miller, Executive Director of Seaside School. “Together with Northwest Florida State College, we’re creating a center that expands access, inspires achievement and prepares our students to lead in a rapidly changing world.”
About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
Recently celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state. Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. |
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Sherard Parker Appointed Executive Director at Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS)
Board of Directors of FCPCS Votes to Promote Parker and Expand His Role
Sherard Parker / Courtesy Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
DAVIE, Fla. (September 3, 2025) – The Board of Directors of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) has appointed Sherard Parker as Executive Director of FCPCS.
In his new position, Parker will be responsible for the overall operations of FCPCS, which is the leading charter school membership organization in the State of Florida. His specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, representing FCPCS at various conferences and community events, supporting and participating in the achievements of its valued member schools, managing and facilitating the organization’s strategic plan, and engaging and coordinating with team members to meet FCPCS’ service and financial goals.
Parker has held the position of Director of Member Services for FCPCS since 2023, with his focus on the many FCPCS tools and services available to its member schools. They include evaluation and training programs for administrators and instructional staff, guidance on compliance issues for member schools, webinars on important topics and services, regular communications tools, access to a Preferred Partners Program with discounted and specialized products and services, and templates for school operations, including manuals, forms, and other school documents.
“Sherard Parker is a superb team member of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools, and he is an invaluable resource to representatives of our member schools,” said Robert Haag, President of FCPCS. “We look forward to his future leadership of FCPCS.”
Parker can be reached by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 954-256-3855.
About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
Recently celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state. Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. |
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New Florida Charter School Fact Sheet Shows 406,832 Students Enrolled in Florida’s Public Charter Schools; Enrollment Total for the 2024-25 School Year is an Increase of 10,310 Students or 2.6 Percent from 2023-24
Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools notes this is the first year more than 400,000 students have enrolled in Florida’s public charter schools.
DAVIE, Fla. (August 29, 2025) – The new Florida Charter School Fact Sheet shows 406,832 students enrolled in Florida’s public charter schools for the 2024-25 school year. The number is an increase of 10,310 students from the previous year, or 2.6 percent.
The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) publishes the annual Florida Charter School Fact Sheet. It notes that the new number is the first time more than 400,000 students have enrolled in Florida’s public charter schools.
“Enrollment at Florida’s public charter schools continues to set records,” said Robert Haag, President of FCPCS. Haag said the new Florida Charter School Fact Sheet is a helpful reference tool to pinpoint details about the growth and success of charter schools in Florida.
The 406,832 charter school students in Florida are 13.8 percent of the overall number of K-12 students enrolled in Florida public schools. They attend 732 charter schools in 48 Florida counties. The 732 total number of charter schools for 2024-25 is seven fewer than for 2023-24. In addition, 77 percent of Florida’s charter schools earned a grade of A or B.
In addition to updating the numbers of students and schools, the new fact sheet includes general background information about public charter schools and how they are funded. It also includes a page of “Myths Versus Facts about Charter Schools.”
The new Florida Charter School Fact Sheet is available online on our Home Page under the 'About Charter Schools' tab: https://www.floridacharterschools.org
About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
Recently celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state. Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. |
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The National Charter Schools Conference – NCSC25 -- Takes Place in Orlando with Strong Involvement of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS)
Leaders from FCPCS member schools and FCPCS Preferred Partners attend NCSC25 seminars and network there.
PHOTO CAPTION: Students from Orlando Science Schools Jazz Band perform “Cry Me a River” during a general session at NCSC25, the National Charter Schools Conference of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The Jazz Band’s performance was facilitated by the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS), of which Orlando Science Schools is a member.
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 9, 2025) – Many representatives of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) participated in the recent National Charter Schools Conference – NCSC25 – presented by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and held at the Orlando World Center Marriott.
The National Charter Schools Conference is the largest national education conference of educators, advocates and leaders of the charter school movement. Participants are empowered by people, resources and expertise to inspire their work. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools states the Conference, “offers the best learning experience for those shaping K-12 education.”
Dozens of NCSC25 sessions covered informative and diverse topics such as the Classroom of the Future, Navigating Digital Distractions, Transforming School Culture, the Age of Artificial Intelligence and STEM Excellence.
Leaders from member schools of FCPCS attended National Charter Schools Conference general sessions and participated in professional development seminars. They also networked with other public charter school professionals from throughout the state and the nation. NCSC25 also attracted many participants in FCPCS’ Preferred Partners Program, including companies that provide goods and services to charter schools.
Among the National Charter Schools Conference attendees was Sherard Parker, Director of Member Services for FCPCS. Parker noted the significant involvement of leaders from FCPCS member schools and representatives of FCPCS Preferred Partners.
“The Central Florida location of NCSC25, the National Charter Schools Conference, presented a great opportunity for participation by representatives of members schools of FCPCS, as well as participants in our Preferred Partners Program” said Parker. “We heard positive comments from many of our members, who said they were learning a lot and enjoying the opportunity to network with other representatives of charter schools from around the state and the nation.”
One highlight of FCPCS involvement in the National Conference was a general session performance of “Cry Me a River” by students from Orlando Science Schools’ Jazz Band. Their performance was facilitated by FCPCS, of which Orlando Science Schools is a member.
FCPCS President Robert Haag thanked its many member school representatives and Preferred Partners who participated this year.
“The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools salutes representatives of many of our member schools who invested their time in learning and networking at NCSC25 in order to increase their knowledge and skills,” said Haag. “We applaud their commitment to education and note the positive impact it has on their students.”
About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary as part of the 2024-2025 school year, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state. Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. |
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