The Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) is a legislatively created, member-led regional educational service agency founded in 1967 to support small and rural K–12 school districts in Northwest Florida. PAEC coordinates shared services, professional development, virtual instruction, programmatic supports (including migrant and exceptional student education), and regional advocacy to improve student achievement across its member districts.
K–12 education funding and resource equity for small/rural districts, shared services and cooperative purchasing, teacher professional development and certification support, special education and migrant student services, virtual/online learning programs, school-based mental health and student support services, and state-level education policy advocacy on behalf of member districts.
Primarily funded through member district contributions and service contracts, supplemented by state and federal education grants, fee-for-service programs, and other public funding streams.
Member school districts across Florida's Panhandle (served collectively by PAEC), Washington County School District (fiscal/record district), Florida Virtual School (franchise/platform partner for PAEC Virtual Instruction), Florida Department of Education partnerships, and regional higher-education partners such as Florida State University and FAMU Developmental Research School.
Non-profit educational consortium / regional educational service agency (legislatively created)
