Since the start of the 2024 school year, withdrawing a child from school to educate them at home no longer involves a simple declaration. The shift to a prior authorization system has changed the game for French families. Understanding the implications of school withdrawal requires knowledge of the current legal framework, the deadlines imposed by the academies, and the subsequent checks.
Prior authorization for home education: what has changed in 2024
Before the law reinforcing the principles of the Republic, a parent could declare home education (IEF) without any particular justification. This declarative regime has been gradually replaced by an authorization system.
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Since the start of the 2024 school year, all IEF requests are subject to authorization, including those that previously fell under an automatic right for certain reasons. The DSDEN (Departmental Directorate of National Education Services) examines each case individually and can refuse the request.
This shift has a direct consequence: a parent can no longer withdraw their child from school and begin home education without obtaining written consent. Any de-schooling initiated without this authorization exposes the family to sanctions. To better understand the implications of school withdrawal, it is first necessary to distinguish the reasons accepted by the administration.
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Reasons accepted by the administration
Home education remains possible, but the application must be justified. The academies accept several categories of reasons:
- The child’s health condition or disability, justified by a medical certificate or a document from the MDPH
- The practice of intensive sports or artistic activities that are incompatible with traditional schooling
- The family’s itinerancy or geographical distance making attendance at an institution difficult
- A situation specific to the child, detailed by the parents (this reason is subject to the strictest examination)
The last reason, the most frequently cited, is also the one that generates the most refusals. The academies have a wide margin of discretion, and feedback from the field varies on this point depending on the departments.
Timeline and Cerfa form: deadlines to respect for withdrawing a child from school
The authorization request cannot be submitted at any time. The academies impose a strict timeline, generally from March 1 to May 31 for de-schooling for the following school year. This timeframe varies slightly from one academy to another, necessitating verification of the dates with one’s DSDEN.
The application goes through a dedicated Cerfa form, accompanied by supporting documents corresponding to the stated reason. The administration’s response time is regulated, but in practice, several weeks may pass before notification.
Withdrawal during the school year: a very regulated case
Withdrawing a child outside the normal timeline is theoretically possible, but only under specific circumstances. A reason that arises after the deadline must be documented (sudden relocation, health issue occurring during the year, for example).
The academies remind that requests outside the timeline are only accepted if the reason arose after the submission period. A parent who decides in October to switch to IEF because the school no longer suits their child has no regulatory basis for obtaining immediate authorization.
Academic checks after withdrawal: frequency and content
Obtaining authorization does not mark the end of the process. The National Education organizes regular checks to verify that the child is receiving an education that meets the common core of knowledge.
The first check usually occurs within the first few months following the start of home education. An inspector assesses the child’s level, the teaching methods used, and the progress relative to the expectations of the relevant cycle.
If the check reveals deficiencies, the family receives a formal notice to enroll the child in a public or private institution. A second check is organized within a short timeframe. In the case of persistent non-compliance, the academic director can order the re-enrollment of the child.
What the inspector checks
The check is not limited to a knowledge test. The inspector observes the learning environment, interacts with the child and the instructing parent. They verify that the progress is consistent with the child’s age and expected level, without imposing a particular teaching method.
The available data does not allow for a conclusion on an average rate of formal notices after checks. Situations vary greatly depending on the academies and the profiles of the families.
Consequences of school withdrawal without authorization
A parent who withdraws their child from school without having obtained prior authorization exposes themselves to several levels of sanctions. The town hall first conducts an investigation to verify the reasons for the child’s absence from a school.
In the absence of justification, the academic director formally notifies the family to enroll the child within a specified timeframe. If the situation persists, criminal proceedings may be initiated for failure to comply with the obligation of education. The sanctions provided by the Education Code include a significant fine and, in the most serious cases, a prison sentence.
Withdrawing a child from school remains a right, but this right is now exercised within a strict administrative framework. The shift from declarative to prior authorization, combined with regular checks, places families in front of documentary and educational obligations that must be anticipated well before the planned withdrawal date.