AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 17, 2026
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 11, 2026
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 23, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
96
Introduced by Senator Allen
(Coauthor: Senator Stern)
February 20, 2025
An act to amend Sections 33195.4 and 33195.6 of the Education Code, relating to heritage schools.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: no Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
Under existing law, a “heritage school” is a school that, among other things, offers world language education or tutoring academic tutoring, or both, in a world language and cultural education relating to
on the culture, traditions, or history of 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. education requirements.
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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 33195.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:
33195.4.
For purposes of this article, “heritage school” means a school that does all of the following:
(a) Only serves children 18 years of age or younger who attend a public or private full-time day school and who meet either of the following requirements:
(1) Are at least 4 years and 9 months of age.
(2) Are enrolled in kindergarten, including transitional kindergarten, or grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(b) Specifies regular hours of operation.
(c) Offers education or academic tutoring, or both, in a world language.
(d) Offers education on the culture, traditions, or history of a country other than the United States.
(e) Offers culturally enriching activities, including, but not limited to, art, dancing, games, or singing, based on the culture or customs of a country other than the United States.
(f) Maintains membership in a state or national cultural or language association.
(g) Complies with relevant local government regulations, where applicable.
(h) Does not operate out of a residential home.
(i) Complies with the requirements of Section 33195 and maintains in its possession a copy of the registration form electronically filed with the Superintendent. The heritage school shall make this form available upon request, including to the State Department of Social Services, to verify exemption from childcare licensure.
SECTION 1.
Section 33195.4 of the Education Code, as amended by Chapter 66 of the Statutes of 2026, is amended to read:
33195.4.
For purposes of this article, “heritage school” means a school that serves children who are at least 4 years and 9 months of age and no older than 18 years of age, who attend a public or private full-time day school, that does all of the following:
(a) Only serves children 18 years of age or younger who attend a public or private full-time day school and who meet either of the following requirements:
(1) Are at least 4 years and 9 months of age.
(2) Are enrolled in kindergarten, including transitional kindergarten, or grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(b) Specifies regular hours of operation.
(c) Offers education or academic tutoring, or both, in a world language.
(d) Offers education on the culture, traditions, or history of a country other than the United States.
(e) Offers culturally enriching activities, including, but not limited to, art, dancing, games, or singing, based on the culture or customs of a country other than the United States.
(f) Maintains membership in a state or national cultural or language association.
(g) Complies with relevant local government regulations, where applicable.
(h) Does not operate out of a residential home.
(i) Complies with the requirements of Section 33195 and maintains in its possession a copy of the registration form electronically filed with the Education Commissioner. The heritage school shall make this form available upon request, including to the State Department of Social Services, to verify exemption from child care childcare licensure.
SEC. 2.
Section 33195.6 of the Education Code is amended to read:
33195.6.
(a) A director of a heritage school shall undergo at least 15 hours of health and safety training. The training shall include all of the following components:
(1) Pediatric first aid.
(2) Pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
(3) A preventive health practices course or courses that include instruction in the recognition, management, and prevention of infectious diseases, including immunizations, and prevention of childhood injuries.
(4) Training in pediatric first aid and CPR pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be provided by a program approved by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or the Emergency Medical Services Authority pursuant to Section 1797.191 of the Health and Safety Code.
(5) Training in preventive health practices pursuant to paragraph (3) shall be provided by a training program approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority.
(6) In addition to the training programs specified in paragraphs (4) and (5), training programs or courses in pediatric first aid, pediatric CPR, and preventive health practices offered or approved by an accredited postsecondary educational institution are considered to be approved sources of training that may be used to satisfy the training requirements of paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.
(7) Persons who, prior to September 23, 2010, have completed a course or courses in preventive health practices as described in paragraph (3), and have a certificate of completion of a course or courses in preventive health practices, or certified copies of transcripts that identify the number of hours and the specific course or courses taken for training in preventive health practices, shall be deemed to have met the training requirement for preventive health practices pursuant to paragraph (3).
(b) All employees and volunteers of a heritage school shall be in good health, as verified by a health screening, including a test for tuberculosis, performed by, or under the supervision of, a licensed physician and surgeon.
(c) Pupils attending heritage schools shall have access to working sinks, toilets, and drinking water.
(d) No A pupil attending a heritage school shall not have access to medication or cleaning supplies, except as otherwise provided by law.
(e) A heritage school, as defined in Section 33195.4, shall not be subject to licensure by the State Department of Social Services as a child day care center pursuant to Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70) or Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 1596.90) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code.
(f) Upon a pupil’s enrollment in a heritage school, the heritage school shall provide a notice to the pupil’s parent or guardian stating that the heritage school is exempt from childcare licensure, that attendance at a heritage school does not satisfy California’s compulsory education requirements pursuant to Section 48200, and that the department has no regulatory authority over heritage schools and does not monitor heritage school operations or instruction.