The course aims to introduce the concept of “heritage languages” with a focus on the Italian school context and the presence of students with a migratory background. To frame the phenomenon, theoretical studies on bilingualism will be discussed and environmental conditions and elements of language policy that influence competence in heritage languages will be presented. The course will also illustrate theoretical approaches that explain the acquisition of heritage languages and highlight the main causes underlying the divergence between the heritage language and the baseline language (i.e., the language spoken by the first generation and/or in the country of origin). Students will be invited to critically analyze the articles presented during the course, which address the phenomenon of heritage languages, the inclusion of first- and second-generation students, and their identity-related aspects.