The Plan for Reform
The public should hold Highlands accountable for real reform.
Under new Executive Director Jonathan Raymond — a proven, crisis-tested leader with deep experience in public education reform — Highlands is undergoing a full reset. Here’s what’s already happening:
Governance & Oversight
- Entirely new leadership team, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Academic Officer
- Former executive director replaced. A new Board of Directors, downsized and professionalized
- Weekly reform milestones and public updates
Credentialing Compliance
- Teachers are being re-credentialed with K-12 credentials, per state guidance issued in 2025
- Over 600 staff laid off to meet compliance — a painful but necessary step
- Process underway to rehire only fully credentialed staff
Attendance & Instructional Time
- New policies require attendance tracking each class period (vs. once) to meet seat-time regulations
- Bell schedules updated and class time structured to meet state requirements
- Compliance audits and monitoring in place
Site & Enrollment Reform
- Instruction paused at 21 school sites closed until compliance verified
- Enrollment caps implemented to ensure manageable class sizes and proper oversight
- Instructional materials and schedules restructured for consistency and clarity
Fiscal Integrity
- New purchasing, contract, audit, and hiring policies adopted
- Extraneous spending eliminated; luxury travel prohibited
- Conflict-of-interest policies strengthened and enforced
Join Us
If you believe in:
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