Private school "out of contract": what are the rules?

Verified 27 June 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Are you planning to enroll your child in a non-contract private school and are you wondering about this type of institution? Opening procedures, educational organization, registration procedures: here is the information to know about private schools outside contract.

Creation process

The private school outside the contract is an establishment which has not signed an agreement with the State. However, this establishment must declare its openness to the rector of the academy where he settles.

The rector transmits the declaration to the mayor of the commune, the prefect and the public prosecutor.

The establishment opens automatically after a three-month period from the date of the declaration, except in the case of opposition to the opening.

Opposition to the opening

The rector, mayor, prefect, and public prosecutor may oppose the opening of the facility for the following reasons:

  • In the interest of public order or child and youth protection
  • The person who opens the establishment and/or the person who will direct it is not French, a national of a country of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • The person who opens the establishment and/or the person who runs it has been convicted of a crime or offense contrary to probity and morals
  • The person who opens the establishment and/or the person who runs it has been deprived of all or part of civil, civil and family rights or parental authority
  • The person who opens the establishment and/or the person who runs it will be permanently prohibited from teaching
  • The person who runs the school does not meet the qualifications to be a teacher
  • The head of the institution has not held at least 5 years of management, teaching or supervision duties in a public or private school in an EU or EEA country
  • The establishment does not have the character of a school or technical establishment

Penalty

A non-contracted private institution that opens undeclared or despite opposition from the authorities may be closed by the prefect. The person responsible for opening the facility also faces up to 1 year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

The private school outside the contract is not obliged to follow the programs, nor to respect the timetables of public education.

However, it must enable children to acquire the knowledge of the common core of competences.

The state does not pay teachers. It's the institution that recruits the teachers and pays them.

Non-contract establishments shall be inspected from 1era year of operation.

Further checks may be organized thereafter.

These inspections consist of administrative and educational checks on establishments.

Administrative control

The prefect and rector check that the director and teachers have the necessary degrees to carry out their duties. They shall also check that the operation of the establishment respects public order, health and social prevention and child and youth protection.

Educational control

The rector ensures that the teachings enable the children to acquire the knowledge of the common core of competences.

Steps

Your child's registration is done directly with the chosen establishment.

The dates and modalities of enrollment may vary from one private educational institution to another. Ask for more information directly at the hotel.

Who shall I contact

Cost

The cost of schooling varies by institution.

If you want to enroll your child in public education, you must contact the departmental directorate of national education in the place of your residence.

Who shall I contact

If your child goes back to high school or college, he or she must pass a admission examination in order to be able to register in the public establishment chosen.

The entrance examination covers the main subjects taught both in the class attended and in the one in which the student wishes to continue his studies. Its content is defined by the Dasen: titleContent. The head of the school where the student wishes to register organizes the admission examination and chairs the jury. If successful, the student is assigned by the Academy Inspector.

Please note

an admission examination may be organized outside the usual periods where the family's request is for special reasons. Examples: family event, move.

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