Homeschooling: These Exceptions Allow It

Exceptions for Homeschooling

In general, compulsory education in Germany is governed by the state school laws. Under these laws, parents are required to send their school-age children to a public school and ensure that they attend classes regularly. In some cases, however, homeschooling may become necessary.

• In each federal state, exceptions for homeschooling are governed by the state’s own laws on education. However, some criteria apply across the board.
• If your child is expected to be ill for more than six weeks or is in a youth welfare facility that restricts their freedom and cannot attend school as a result, an exception for homeschooling is justified.
• In most cases, the exemption is also granted if your child will regularly miss school for at least one day per week for a valid reason. An example of this would be participation in rehabilitation programs on certain days of the week.
• Time and again, there are also minors who become pregnant while of school age. They, too, are entitled to home schooling before and after childbirth under the Maternity Protection Act.
• If a pregnant student is not feeling well during her pregnancy, she may also take advantage of home schooling during this time. However, a doctor’s note must be submitted for this.

Apply for Homeschooling

To properly obtain homeschooling authorization for your child, you generally must submit a medical certificate or expert opinion.

• Submit the application to the school your child currently attends. Typically, you send an informal request to the school administration.
• In all federal states, regulations stipulate that the school itself does not decide on the application. The school administration drafts a statement and then forwards the application to the higher-level school authority.
• The school authority makes a decision promptly. The decision is returned with a statement of reasons. The scope of home schooling (number of class hours per week) is also specified in the response. The figures vary from one federal state to another. 
• In most cases, the school authority designates the school the child previously attended to provide the home schooling. The provision of instruction by the child’s familiar teachers applies equally to public and private schools.
• In this regard, the teachers then visit the sick child at home. The curriculum is often limited to core subjects only, so as not to overwhelm the sick child. In this case, tutoring is conducted online.
• Once home instruction is complete, teachers are required to inform the school of your child’s academic performance. All teachers in the class discuss the next steps—such as reintegration into the classroom or issuing report cards—during a conference.
• If your child is receiving inpatient treatment, the facility may employ its own teachers. In this case, home schooling takes place at the hospital. The teacher on site teaches using the materials provided by your child’s school.
• Detention facilities for juveniles also have their own teachers and classrooms. However, the on-site teachers do not require materials from the child’s home school.