Twin Peaks Charter Academy was approved as the first charter school in the St. Vrain Valley School District, in Longmont Colorado, on September 11, 1996 to begin operations in the fall of 1997.  In 1999, TPCA applied for and received a six-year charter renewal from the district. Once again, in 2005 another charter renewal application was submitted and approved for operation for five years, from Fall 2006 - Summer 2011.

Charter Schools are public schools governed by parents, operating under a chartering authority. St. Vrain Valley School District (www.stvrain.k12.co.us) is the chartering authority for TPCA.  

A Charter, and subsequent Charter Renewal, is a document that defines the broad guidelines of how the school will operate.  Annually, SVVSD requires TPCA to through a negotiation process with the district to agree on details of purchasing services and other relationship details.

TPCA operates under SVVSD policies and regulations, unless a replacement has been adopted.  As TPCA adopts policies, they are submitted to the district for approval.  The school also operates according to all Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S), except for specific CDE approved waivers that the district requests on TPCA's behalf.  During annual contract negotiations any new C.R.S waiver requests may be requested.