Member Schools of Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Take Center Stage at Florida Charter School Conference + School Choice Summit

Photo Caption: Student musicians from Indian River Charter High School perform in the Exhibit Hall on the opening day of the recent Florida Charter School Conference + School Choice Summit in Orlando.

Photo Caption: Trisha Leitem (left), Director of Services at Building Hope, with Sherard Parker, Executive Director of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) at the Exhibit Hall during the recent Florida Charter School Conference + School Choice Summit.  Building Hope is a Preferred Partner of FCPCS.

ORLANDO, Fla. (October 29, 2025) – The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) stood out at the recent Florida Charter School Conference + School Choice Summit in Orlando, where it built meaningful connections with leaders from many of its member charter schools and supported musical performances by their students. 

Held at the Caribe Royale Orlando, the Conference brought together hundreds of charter school educators for training and networking opportunities.  FCPCS members participated in general sessions and breakout programs, plus they toured a packed exhibit hall, where FCPCS was again represented at its booth by Executive Director Sherard Parker, among others. 

Opening day for the Conference and the Exhibit Hall was highlighted by a jazz performance from student musicians attending Indian River Charter High School of Vero Beach, Fla.  Indian River Charter High School is a member of FCPCS, which linked school representatives with conference organizers.  The opening General Session performance was by students from Orlando Science Schools of Orlando, Fla.  Orlando Science Schools is a member of FCPCS.  The closing General Session performance was by students from Ivy Hawn Charter School for the Arts in Lake Helen, Fla., north of DeLand.  Ivy Hawn Charter School for the Arts is also a member of FCPCS. 

“Students from FCPCS member schools took center stage at the Florida Charter School Conference + School Choice Summit,” said Sherard Parker, Executive Director of FCPCS.  “We’re extremely pleased with our member schools’ participation in creating meaningful experiences for the students and helping to make the Conference a big success.” 

Florida’s charter school movement now numbers 732 schools with 406,832 students enrolled for the 2024/2025 school year.  For more than 25 years, FCPCS has paved the way for the growth of charter schools in Florida.  It is the leading charter school membership organization in the state. 

“The success of Florida’s public charter schools comes from sharing information at events like Florida’s Charter School Conference + School Choice Summit,” said FCPCS President Robert Haag.  “That’s why FCPCS was created and why our member schools are actively engaged in the work of our organization.” 

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

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.