Twin Rivers Unified trustees on Tuesday night shot down proposed overhauls to Highlands Community Charter and its sister independent-study program, keeping both schools one step closer to losing their charters. The vote followed months of scrutiny and a packed public meeting where students, staff and community partners urged trustees to think about what a shutdown would mean for adult learners. Board members said the changes on the table still did not meet the district’s oversight standards.
What the board did
During the Twin Rivers Unified School District meeting, trustees voted to deny the requested material charter revisions for Highlands and the California Innovative Career Academy. The move keeps the district on a procedural path toward potential revocation. As reported by ABC10, the failed votes clear the way for the board to continue formal revocation steps unless Highlands can show it has fixed the violations the district identified.
Audit findings and oversight concerns
The heightened scrutiny follows a state audit that concluded Highlands received more than $177 million in K–12 funding it was not eligible for and flagged misreported attendance, questionable spending and problems with teacher credentials. According to the California State Auditor, the report called for stronger district oversight and cited a series of specific charter and statutory violations.
Highlands' response and the community
Highlands’ new leadership says it has moved quickly to respond to many of the audit’s recommendations, restructuring governance, trimming staff and revising curriculum and oversight practices, as reported by EdSource. The charter operator also urged supporters to attend the Jan. 13 meeting and framed the proposed revisions as part of an active reform effort, according to Highlands’ website.
Where the revocation process stands
Twin Rivers moved the revocation process forward in November when trustees voted to issue notices of intent, a procedural step that starts a public-hearing timeline and requires the operator to respond to specific alleged violations. The Sacramento Bee reported that earlier vote was unanimous and detailed concerns that included unauthorized grade levels, unapproved locations, missing audits and shortfalls in required instructional minutes.
Why this matters
The potential impact is large. The state audit found that Highlands operated more than 50 sites and reported roughly 13,700 students and more than 700 employees in fall 2024, including many adult learners and English learners who rely on the network for diplomas and job training. Shutting down or transferring that operation would be complicated and could leave thousands of students and community partners scrambling for options, the audit and local coverage warn.
What’s next
If Twin Rivers moves from notices to a formal revocation decision, state rules require written notice of the alleged violations, a public hearing and a chance for the charter operator to remedy the problems before any final action. The coming weeks are expected to be pivotal as Highlands and the district work through potential technical fixes and community advocates continue to press for more time and transparency, with EdSource tracking the broader oversight and policy debates.
