California Education Policy Digest

Highlands charter bankruptcy intensifies charter-finance and oversight concerns

Highlands charter bankruptcy intensifies charter-finance and oversight concerns

Highlands Community Charter School filed for bankruptcy amid allegations of roughly $180 million in state overpayments and wasteful spending. Highlands disputes the allegations, but the audit’s spending examples, credentialing concerns, governance history, proposed authorizer change, and continued operations leave repayment, student continuity, immigrant-learner services, and state oversight unresolved.

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Updated Oct 7, 2026