Under existing law, a "heritage school" is a school that, among other things, offers world language education or tutoring and cultural education relating to a country other than the United States to children who are at least 4 years and 9 months of age and no older than 18 years of age and who attend a public or private full-time day school. Existing law exempts a heritage school from licensure by the State Department of Social Services as a child day care center, as specified.
This bill would expand the definition of "heritage school" to also include a school that provides services to children younger than 4 years and 9 months of age who are enrolled in kindergarten, including transitional kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
Existing law requires a heritage school, upon a pupil's enrollment in a heritage school, to provide a notice to the pupil's parent or guardian stating that the heritage school is exempt from childcare licensure and that attendance at a heritage school does not satisfy California's compulsory education.
This bill would require a heritage school, upon a pupil's enrollment in a heritage school, to also provide notice that the State Department of Education has no regulatory authority over heritage schools and does not monitor heritage school operations or instruction.

Statutes affected:
SB 549: 53398.75.7 GOV
02/20/25 - Introduced: 53398.75.7 GOV
06/23/25 - Amended Assembly: 53398.75.7 GOV
06/11/26 - Amended Assembly: 33195.4 EDC, 33195.4 EDC, 33195.6 EDC, 33195.6 EDC, 53398.75.7 GOV
SB549: 53398.75.7 GOV