Court Pauses Twin Rivers Appeal of Highlands Charters
A bankruptcy judge halted Twin Rivers Unified's appeal of charter revocations for two Sacramento-area adult schools until June 2027.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Secondary Education
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A U.S. bankruptcy court barred Twin Rivers Unified from pursuing its appeal of the revocation of Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools' charters until June 2027. Highlands, a nonprofit that runs two charter schools for approximately 2,000 adult students, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2026.
Why it matters
The judge found the appeal could interfere with Highlands' reorganization and disrupt students if charters were revoked before new ones are secured. Sutter County is considering chartering the schools, which could keep the programs operating.
A disputed $186.5 million state claim is pending against Highlands, which serves approximately 2,000 adult students across two schools. The outcome of the Sutter County charter request and the state claim remains unresolved.
The players
Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools
A nonprofit operating two charter schools for adult students in the Sacramento area, now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy while seeking new charters in Sutter County.
Twin Rivers Unified
A California school district that voted to revoke Highlands' charters and appealed the Sacramento County Board of Education's reversal to the California State Board of Education.
The details
Highlands asked the bankruptcy court to pause the Twin Rivers Unified appeal, arguing the bankruptcy filing automatically halts it. Judge Christopher Jaime granted the injunction, which keeps the appeal on hold while Highlands seeks new charters in Sutter County.
Timeline
January 2026: The Twin Rivers Unified board voted to revoke Highlands' charters.
June 2026: A state audit found the schools received apportionment funding they were not eligible for.
October 2026: Highlands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
November 10, 2026: The bankruptcy court paused Twin Rivers Unified's appeal.
End of June 2027: The pause on the appeal expires.
Season Trajectory
The dispute follows California's appeal structure for charter revocations, in which a county board reversal can be challenged before the state board. Bankruptcy now delays that path, shifting the timing of the decision for Highlands' students.
Families of Highlands students should track the Sutter County charter decision, since the appeal pause runs only until June 2027. Students may need to plan for possible changes in program location or operation during the bankruptcy process.
The takeaway
Bankruptcy filings can pause public school appeals, shifting when students learn whether their programs will continue. Watching local charter approvals offers a clearer view of what comes next for affected families.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education to see how charter disputes affect students across California.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Sacramento Bee.
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