Highlands Charter Faces Revocation Amid State Audit Findings

The Sacramento-area education community is abuzz as the Twin Rivers Unified School District moves forward with plans to revoke the charter for Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools (HCCTS). This significant action follows a damning state audit revealing numerous legal and contractual violations, placing the future of a school serving thousands of vulnerable adult learners in jeopardy.

The State Audit Uncovers Major Violations

In June, a state audit brought to light severe issues at HCCTS, finding that the school inappropriately received over $180 million in state funds, which California is now seeking to recoup. The audit also detailed alarming operational failures, including the employment of teachers without appropriate K-12 credentials, a failure to meet instructional minute requirements, and several questionable financial transactions that violated legal prohibitions against public fund gifts and conflicts of interest.

California State Auditor Grant Parks highlighted the Twin Rivers Unified School District’s role, noting that “if Twin Rivers had conducted more thorough oversight, it could have identified some of the violations we identified as part of our audit and taken action to address them earlier.”

Highlands’ Leadership Responds with Swift Reforms

Since the audit’s release, HCCTS has undergone a rapid transformation under new Executive Director Jonathan Raymond, former superintendent of Sacramento City Unified School District. Raymond, who started in early July, quickly moved to restructure the board, leading to the resignation of the majority of its trustees. The remaining three plan to step down once new board members are appointed later this month, ensuring an entirely fresh start.

The school also laid off 630 uncredentialed teachers and administrative staff. As a direct result, enrollment plummeted from 12,000 students in the 2024-25 school year to 1,440 this fall, though 4,000 students remain on a waitlist. Raymond emphasizes a commitment to accountability, stating, “Thousands of students have already paid the price for the choices of prior leadership. We just need the time to show that serving this community is worth it.” Highlands is now funding programs to help laid-off teachers obtain their K-12 credentials, hoping they can return to serve the waitlisted students.

A New Path for Adult Learners

Recognizing the unique needs of its student population, primarily immigrant, refugee, and returning citizens aged 22 and older, Highlands is implementing a “newcomer pathway.” This year-long course, set to begin in January, will provide essential foundational skills in English and math before students transition to high school-level coursework. This addresses a key challenge: the previous model, designed for teenagers, struggled to effectively serve older English learners, especially a significant portion of Afghan immigrants and refugees whose educational opportunities were curtailed by the Taliban takeover.

Twin Rivers’ Stance: Remedial Plan Falls Short

Despite Highlands’ reform efforts, Twin Rivers officials remain unconvinced. In their notice of intent to revoke the charters, the district cited that Highlands’ remedial action plan failed to sufficiently address seven of eight legal and contractual violations. Key sticking points include Highlands enrolling students in grades 9 and 10 despite being authorized only for grade 12, and operating at locations not approved by the district.

The district maintains that the school has not adequately addressed the misuse of public funds for luxury office spaces, insufficient tracking of instructional minutes, and the failure to submit annual independent audit reports. The board is expected to vote on sending the intent to revoke the charters at a public meeting this Tuesday evening.

What’s Next for Highlands and the Community?

Should the Twin Rivers board approve the intent to revoke, a public hearing on the matter is scheduled for early December. This will provide Highlands’ leadership a final opportunity to address the board directly. A final determination from the Twin Rivers board would then be made by the end of the year or in January 2026, if both parties agree to an extension. Raymond anticipates strong community support at these upcoming hearings, highlighting the devastating impact a closure would have on thousands of students.

Highlands Community Charter & Technical Schools: Key Changes

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools (HCCTS)?
  HCCTS is a specialized charter high school in the Sacramento area serving adult learners, primarily immigrants, refugees, and returning citizens, helping them complete their high school education and enter the workforce.
• Why is Twin Rivers Unified seeking to revoke its charter?
  Following a state audit that found legal and contractual violations, including inappropriate state funding, uncredentialed teachers, and questionable financial transactions, Twin Rivers determined that Highlands’ remedial action plan was insufficient.
• What changes has Highlands made in response?
  Highlands has appointed new leadership, seen most of its board resign, laid off hundreds of staff, and introduced a new “newcomer pathway” program specifically designed for its adult English language learners.
• When will a final decision be made on the charter revocation?
  After a public hearing scheduled for early December, the Twin Rivers board is expected to vote on a final determination by the end of 2025 or in January 2026.

For Sacramento locals, the potential closure of Highlands represents a significant blow to a vital educational resource for vulnerable populations. Staying informed and engaging in the upcoming public hearings can help ensure the voices of those most affected are heard.

Highlands Charter Faces Revocation Audit Uncovers Issues