Florida Public Charter Schools to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, 2025 

Member Schools of Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Encouraged to Participate 

DAVIE, Fla. (September 10, 2025) – Many of Florida’s 732 public charter schools are expected to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, 2025. 

Member schools of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) are encouraged to participate in the 2025 celebration, which includes student and educator contests organized by the Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida. 

This year’s student art and essay contests are based on the theme, “Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heritage.” 

The Student Art Contest is open to all kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida, including students at Florida’s charter schools.  Participating students should submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme.  Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies and a 1-year pass to Florida state parks. 

The Student Essay Contest is open to all fourth through twelfth-grade students in Florida, including students at Florida’s public charter schools.  Participating students should submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme and written in English.  Six winners will be selected from Florida elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.  Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies. 

The Excellence in Education Award is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida, including charter schools.  Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student.  Four winners will be selected.  Each will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida. 

The deadline for entries or nominations in all of the contests is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. 

“The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools encourages our member schools to be part of the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration,” said FCPCS President Robert Haag.  “Many of Florida’s public charter schools have participated in past years.” 

Contest entry information, nomination forms with guidelines and links for online submissions are available at https://floridahispanicheritage.com/. 

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.

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.

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.

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.