Private school "out of contract": what are the rules?
Verified 04 February 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Your child can attend school at a school non-contractual private, i.e. an establishment which has not signed an agreement with the State. 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 in case of illegal opening
A private establishment not under contract that opens undeclared or despite opposition authorities may be closed by the prefect.
Please note
In these 2 cases, the Dasen: titleContent formal notice the parents of the children who are being accommodated there are asked to enroll them in a school. They must do so within 15 days of notification of formal notice.
The person responsible for opening the facility could face up to 1 year in prison and €15,000 of fine.
It also risks a ban on opening, running and teaching schools. This prohibition may be final or fixed for a maximum period of five years.
The private school outside the contract is not obliged to follow the programs, or 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 1re 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.
FYI
If the managers of the establishment refuse or obstruct the controls, the prefect may decide to close the establishment temporarily or permanently, without formal notice prior.
Approach
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 transfer your child from private out-of-contract to public education, you must contact the National Education Department of your place of residence.
If your child returns to college or at secondary school, he must pass a admission examination in order to be able to register in the public establishment chosen.
The admission exam covers the main subjects taught both in the classroom and in the one where your child wishes to continue his studies. Its content is defined by the Dasen: titleContent.
The head of the school where your child wishes to register organizes the admission exam and chairs the jury. If successful, your child is affected 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. For example, in case of a family event or a move.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Opening of private educational institutions
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education