Twin Rivers Unified board revokes troubled adult charter school

The Twin Rivers Unified School District board voted Tuesday night to revoke the charter of Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools, which became the poster child for charter school reform last year after a state audit found it had misspent over $180 million.

The adult charter school operates Highlands Community Charter and the California Innovative Career Academy, a virtual school, in the Sacramento region. Students are primarily new immigrants who want to earn a diploma, improve their English language skills, or learn a trade.

The nearly unanimous board decision came after emotional testimony from former and current students and employees. 

“I finally found a school that adapts to my circumstances and my needs, a school that welcomed me with open arms without caring who I am or where I come from and is giving me the chance to visualize a better future,” Teresa Hernandez said through an interpreter. “I’m not talking just for myself. I want you to see in me the face of many classmates. All we want is to study. We want to add to this country, not take away from it.”

Hernandez, a mother and housekeeper, waited two years to move off the waiting list and into a classroom, only to find out the school could close.

Twin Rivers Unified staff also recommended the district continue its relationship with the charter school. The school, which is under new leadership, has addressed the violations previously identified by the district, according to staff.

Twin Rivers trustees were not swayed.

“The concerns raised in the notice of violation have not been remedied to my satisfaction nor to that of my constituency,” said Christine Jefferson, board president.”

Board member Michael Baker echoed her remarks. 

Charter had a long list of violations

The violations, outlined by the district in June, include failing to submit an independent audit, failing to track and meet required instructional minutes, operating at locations not approved by the district, employing teachers without the appropriate credentials, and paying the leases on properties not used for instruction.

The Joint Legislative Audit Committee report had similar findings. It also determined the charter school owes the state $180 million it collected between 2022 and 2024 because it did not have enough properly credentialed teachers, and students did not attend school enough hours for the school to be eligible for state funding.

It is possible that Twin Rivers Unified could be responsible for repaying the funds if the school closes, according to district staff.

The board’s vote was no surprise. Twin Rivers trustees signaled their dissatisfaction with the charter school at a board meeting earlier this month when they voted not to allow the school to revise its charter to modify its locations to 13 school sites, despite a recommendation to do so by district staff. 

At its peak, the charter had expanded to more than 50 school sites throughout the state and served about 13,700 students. After closing most of its sites after the state audit was made public in June, its enrollment is down to 1,500 students. There are 4,000 students currently on waiting lists, according to Highlands officials.

Twin Rivers Unified, as authorizer of the charter school, has also been under considerable pressure since the state audit report was made public. The school district was among those blamed in the audit for failing to take appropriate action after a 2018 Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) report revealed problems with the charter. 

Charter will appeal

The charter school has 30 days to appeal the Twin Rivers Unified decision to the Sacramento County Office of Education, said Jonathan Raymond, executive director of Highlands. If the appeal fails, the charter school may appeal to the state. The whole process could take until the end of the school year, he said.

“This decision is deeply disappointing, but it does not end Highlands,” Raymond said. “School remains open. Classes will continue. Students should keep coming to class and stay focused on their education.”

Raymond took the reins of the charter school in June after the audit became public. He immediately asked former board members to step down and replaced much of the school’s leadership team. Since then, Highlands leaders have revised academic, operational, and fiscal policies to bring them into compliance with state law and their charter, according to charter officials. 

Raymond is confident the charter school will win its appeal. If that happens, Twin Rivers Unified will continue to oversee the charter as its authorizer until at least June 2027, when the charter expires and must be renewed by the district or picked up by the county office or another eligible district, Raymond said.

“Our students are survivors and fighters,” Raymond said. “They have shown extraordinary commitment to their education, and we will continue fighting alongside them with hope for their futures.”

EdSource reporter Zaidee Stavely contributed to this report.