Tracy Learning Center Case: What One Injury Reveals About Charter School Safety

By Yosi Yahoudai Founder and Managing Partner

September 30, 2025

News & Updates

Parents expect schools to be safe havens. But a recent case at Tracy Learning Center (TLC) in Tracy, California, where a student was seriously injured due to an alleged hazard, underscores how fragile that promise can be. The incident raises larger questions about whether charter schools, which take public dollars but operate independently, are adequately protecting their students. 

What Is Tracy Learning Center?

Tracy Learning Center is a TK–12 public charter complex founded in 2001. The address is 238 W Grant Line Rd. Unit B, Tracy, CA 95376. It operates three schools under one umbrella: Primary Charter (TK–4), Discovery Middle (5–8), and Millennium High (9–12). The campus, home to hundreds of students in the Central Valley, is run by CEO Carolyn Woods, who succeeded longtime leader Virginia Stewart. 

Charters like TLC are authorized by local school districts (here, Tracy Joint Unified) but are largely governed by their own nonprofit boards. That independence has fueled both innovation and scrutiny. 

The Injury That Sparked Legal Action

In the recent case, a child at TLC sustained severe injuries allegedly tied to a hazardous condition on school grounds. According to the family, the hazard had been reportedly neglected despite being visible and preventable. The ordeal required medical treatment and has left lasting trauma. 

As the parents put it: 

“Our child should have been safe at school,” the parents said in a statement. “Instead, we watched him struggle through the pain of several surgeries because a hazard was ignored. This never should have happened.” 

What the Law Requires

Under California Government Code §835, public entities (including charter schools) are liable for injuries caused by dangerous conditions on their property. Schools must maintain campuses in “good repair,” a term defined by the Education Code and monitored through the state’s Facility Inspection Tool (FIT). 

Charter schools are also bound by Education Code §47604.32, which requires their authorizing district to conduct annual site visits, monitor compliance with health and safety laws, and ensure reports are filed. However, oversight fees are capped (generally at 1% of revenue), limiting how much monitoring districts can realistically do. 

Meanwhile, Education Code §47604 shields districts from liability for charter school negligence, provided they perform their limited oversight duties. This creates an accountability gap: when something goes wrong, it is usually the charter itself that bears responsibility, not the district. 

A System Under Strain

This case didn’t happen in isolation. A 2024 California State Auditor report found many schools (both district and charter) struggling with deferred maintenance and unsafe conditions, including broken playground equipment, structural deterioration, and missing safety devices. 

For charters like TLC, the challenge is often sharper: 

• They cannot access local bond funds for repairs the way district schools can. 

• Maintenance frequently competes with classroom budgets. 

• Staffing models are leaner, meaning fewer supervisors on playgrounds and athletic fields. 

Why Back-to-School Heightens the Risks

The start of the school year is a high-risk period for injuries. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons warns that school injuries spike in September and October as students adjust to routines, playgrounds see heavy use, and sports seasons begin. Nationwide, more than 200,000 children a year are treated in ERs for playground-related injuries, nearly 80% from falls. 

At schools where inspections or repairs are delayed, the risk of an accident is even greater. 

Why the Tracy Learning Center Case Matters

TLC has been part of the Tracy community for over two decades. Yet even a long-established charter can fall short when oversight and maintenance are stretched thin. This case highlights: 

• The oversight gap: Districts aren’t liable for charter negligence, leaving charters to police themselves. 

• The funding gap: Without local bond access, charters face tough choices about whether to fund safety or academics. 

• The human cost: One child’s preventable trauma is a reminder that behind every statistic is a family whose trust was broken. 

The Attorney Defending Students Against Unsafe Schools

The family is represented by Senior Trial Attorney Alex Boris of J&Y Law, who’s widely recognized for holding schools accountable when they fail to protect children. In 2024, Boris and the firm obtained the #1 settlement in San Diego County in the category of School Safety, following the case Brown v. Vista United School District. That case, which also earned recognition from TopVerdict.com in the categories of Failure to Supervise and Amputation, cemented Boris’s reputation as one of California’s leading defenders of students injured by unsafe school environments. 

As Boris notes: 

“When schools are underfunded and under-supervised, hazards go unnoticed, and our kids pay the price.” 

Key Questions for Parents and Taxpayers

• When was the last certified playground inspection conducted? 

• What is the student-to-supervisor ratio during recess and sports? 

• What oversight has the authorizing district performed? 

• If a child is injured, who is legally accountable? 

Who Watches Those Watching Our Children?

The Tracy Learning Center injury is more than one family’s tragedy. It is a case study in how gaps in oversight, funding, and staffing create risks for children at charter schools across California. 

Charter schools are part of the public system and take public dollars. That should mean public accountability. Until these gaps are closed, parents have reason to ask a troubling question every time they drop their children off at school: 

Who is really watching out for our kids? 

If you believe your child’s school or a negligent school leader allowed unsafe conditions that caused harm, don’t wait to take action. At J&Y Law, we’ve handled over 10,000 cases with a 98% success rate. Call us today to speak directly with our team and work with Senior Trial Attorney Alex Boris, who has a proven record of defending students and families against unsafe schools.