Heritage School Registration Instructions

California Education Code (EC) Section 33195 requires heritage schools to file the HSR Form annually between January 1 and 31.

Information explaining who should file and why, as well as Heritage School Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the California Department of Education (CDE) Heritage Schools web page.

Completing the Heritage School Registration (HSR) Form:

Step 1: Begin by making certain that your school is eligible to file. Eligible schools satisfy all of the requirements set forth in EC Section 33195.4. That section defines “heritage school” as a school that serves children who are at least four (4) years and nine (9) months of age and no older than 18 years of age, and who also attend a public or private full-time day school. Also included in the definition is the requirement that heritage schools do all of the following:

• Specify regular hours of operation.
• Offer education or academic tutoring, or both, in a foreign language.
• Offer education on the culture, traditions, or history of a country other than the United States.
• Offer 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.
• Maintain membership in a state or national cultural, or language association.
• Comply with relevant local government regulations, where applicable.
• Do not operate out of a residential home.
• Comply with the requirements of EC Section 33195 and maintain 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 child care licensure.

Step 2: Complete every question unless these instructions indicate you may leave a field blank. Fill out the entire form during one Internet session and click the “Submit Form” button at the end/bottom of the form to send your electronic registration to the CDE. Once your form is successfully entered, a Transaction Number will appear in the onscreen box located at the top of your form.

Step 3: Read the “Notice” section carefully. When you have read and understand each statement and the requirements of EC Section 33195, check the box at the end of this section if your heritage school is in compliance with all requirements.

Step 4: Complete the “Heritage School Information” section. Note that you may enter an additional name of a person or any organization under whose authority the heritage school does business. If there is only one such person or organization, leave the additional field blank. 

Step 5: In the “Statistical Information” section, enter the requested information about the students who are currently enrolled and teachers who currently work in your heritage school. Note that “Ungraded” refers to students in kindergarten through grade twelve in an ungraded program that groups children according to performance, rather than grade level.

Step 6: Enter the name, address, and e-mail address of the director or principal officer who is the head of the heritage school in the “Administrative Staff” section. If there is more than one person who is considered the director, principal officer or head of the heritage school, provide the name and contact information pertaining to an additional person. If not, simply leave those additional fields blank.

Step 7: In the “Acknowledgements and Statutory Notices” section, carefully read each statement, 1 through 20. Click on each hyperlink to read the corresponding section of EC so that you will be fully informed of the California laws that govern heritage school operations. When you have read and understand each statement and referenced section of EC, check each box if your heritage school is in compliance.

Note: You will only be able to submit the HSR Form if all of the boxes are checked. If your heritage school is currently out of compliance with any statement or referenced section of EC, close the form and return to the Web page to begin filing again once your heritage school is in full compliance. Print a copy of your partially completed form, as it will not be saved in the system.

Step 8: Make certain that the owner or head of the heritage school completes the “Electronic Signature” section after confirming that all of the information provided in the other sections of the form is true, accurate, and complete. Enter the name of the owner or head of the heritage school, and the requested information in the remaining four fields. Click “Submit Form.”

Step 9: Carefully read the instructions at the top of the Annual Heritage School Transaction Page that will appear on your screen. Print a copy of the Transaction Page. Click “Payment Voucher” and print the Heritage School Registration Payment Voucher that will appear on your screen. Complete the Payment Voucher and mail it together with payment and a copy of the Transaction Page to:

California Department of Education
Cashiers Office
Heritage School Registration 
P.O. Box 515006
Sacramento, CA 95851-5006

Note: The heritage school registration process is not complete until your filing fee has been received by the CDE. Payment may be made by money order, cashier’s check, or by credit card. Retain a copy of all forms and payment mailed for your records. All heritage school registration forms and filing fees must be received by January 31. Once your HSR Form has been submitted electronically and the correct filing fee has been received, your HSR Form will be displayed online in the CDE Heritage School Registration Form Search Page. Allow four to six weeks to process your payment. Then visit the CDE Heritage School Registration Form Search Page and print a copy of your HSR Form for your permanent records.