Highlands Charter School Slashes 87% of Staff Amid Audit Fallout

Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools (HCCTS) is laying off more than 87% of its workforce, reducing staff from 715 to just 94 employees, effective June 30, 2025.

And according to ABC10, these latest HCCTS layoffs affect a wide range of roles, including teachers, IT personnel, administrators, marketing staff, and para-educators.

This drastic reduction follows a recent audit revealing significant issues within the institution. The audit uncovered problems such as uncredentialed teachers, inflated attendance records, and massive class sizes, with some rosters exceeding 400 students.

Additionally, the school discarded attendance records required by law to be kept for three years.

In response to the audit, HCCTS acknowledged attendance errors and agreed to repay nearly $13 million.

However, the school disputes some of the audit's findings, particularly regarding the use of their proprietary app, "The Brain," as an attendance tool.

The layoffs and audit findings have raised concerns about the school's oversight and accountability, especially given its significant public funding.

A state audit is currently underway, with results expected in the summer of 2025.