Schulpflicht in Germany: Compulsory Education, Absences, and Fines

In Germany, a child’s school education is not a matter of family choice but a legal obligation. Schulpflicht means that a child must regularly attend school and participate in mandatory school activities, and parents are responsible for ensuring this happens. It is not permitted to arrange for a child to be excused from school “due to family circumstances” or to go on vacation during the school year without the school’s permission.

The main challenge for new families in Germany is that school rules are regulated by the federal states. The general principles are similar across the country, but the starting age, duration, procedures for excused absences, and penalties for truancy differ.

What Does “Schulpflicht” Mean?

Schulpflicht involves more than just attending classes. It typically includes:

• Regular attendance at classes according to the schedule;
• Participation in mandatory school events, field trips, sports days, and projects;
• fulfilling school obligations, including homework;
• enrollment in a public school or a state-recognized Ersatzschule/private school;
• Following procedures in the event of illness, vacation, moving, and changing schools.

In Germany, compulsory school attendance cannot be replaced by regular homeschooling at the parents’ discretion. Exceptions are possible only in special cases and are decided according to the rules of the specific state and the Schulamt.

The state is responsible for organizing schools, and at the local level, the Schulamt is often involved. Parents must register their school-age child and maintain contact with the school if the family has moved, the child is sick, or there are difficulties with attendance.

When Does Compulsory Education Begin and How Long Does It Last?

According to the Kultusministerkonferenz, compulsory schooling generally begins in the year a child turns six. In most states, full-time compulsory schooling lasts nine school years. In Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, and Thuringia, it lasts ten school years. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the duration depends on the educational path and is either nine or ten years.

After Vollzeitschulpflicht, Teilzeitschulpflicht or Berufsschulpflicht often follows. This applies to teenagers who do not continue their education in a full-time school but instead transition to an Ausbildung, a Berufsschule, or another vocational path. Usually, Berufsschulpflicht lasts about three years or is tied to the duration of the Ausbildung.

The German school system is organized by state, so it’s best to check the exact dates on your state’s Ministry of Education website or through the school. It’s especially important to double-check the rules if your child is older than 15–16, has moved from another country, or has already completed part of their schooling abroad.

Why State-by-State Tables Become Outdated Quickly

Older reference guides often contain large tables showing in which state Schulpflicht begins at age 5–6 or 6–7, how long school lasts, and up to what age Berufsschulpflicht applies. Such tables are useful as a guide but risky to rely on as the sole source of information.

Reasons:

• School laws vary by state;
• There are transitional rules for school years;
• For compulsory vocational education (Berufsschulpflicht), the following are important: apprenticeship (Ausbildung), vocational college (Berufskolleg), upper secondary school (gymnasiale Oberstufe), FSJ/FÖJ, and other pathways;
• For children arriving from abroad, the Schule and Schulamt may assess their age, prior education, and language proficiency on a case-by-case basis.

For example, in Berlin, after 10th grade, an additional mandatory support measure is introduced for the transition to Sekundarstufe II: starting in the 2025/2026 school year, this will be the 11th Pflichtschuljahr. This is a good example of why it’s important to check the current rules for each state rather than relying on outdated tables.

What Should a Family That Has Just Arrived Do?

1. Register your residential address.
2. Contact your school, the Bezirksamt, the Schulamt, or the welcome/coordination office in your state.
3. Prepare your child’s documents: passport, registration, birth certificate, previous report cards, vaccination records, and medical records, if needed.
4. Find out whether your child needs a preparatory language class, a Willkommensklasse, or a regular class.
5. Ask for written confirmation of which school your child is supposed to attend and starting on what date.
6. If you haven’t found a school yet, keep all correspondence with government agencies and schools.

You cannot simply wait for a suitable school for months without contacting the Schulamt. If a school-age child lives in Germany, the issue of school attendance must be actively addressed.

Illness, Absences, and Exemptions from Classes

If a child falls ill, parents must notify the school according to established procedures: in the morning, before classes begin, or by the deadline specified in the school’s rules. Often, a phone call, email, or message through the school system is sufficient at first, but a written Entschuldigung is required later. In the case of a prolonged illness, the school may require a doctor’s note.

For planned absences, you need a Beurlaubung or Befreiung in advance. This applies, for example, to important family events, religious reasons, medical examinations, sports competitions, or other valid circumstances. The decision is made by the school or the Schulbehörde in accordance with the state’s regulations.

Vacations, cheap tickets, and early departures before school breaks are generally not considered valid reasons. If a family wants to leave before the official start of the school break, they must obtain written permission in advance. Without it, the absence may be considered Schulversäumnis.

A helpful link for planning vacations: официальные школьные каникулы по землям. Be sure to check your school’s calendar before buying tickets: individual “bewegliche Ferientage” and teacher training days may vary.

Who Is Responsible for Absences

Several parties are responsible for school attendance:

• Children are required to attend classes and mandatory school activities;
• Parents or guardians are required to ensure attendance;
• The school records the absence and contacts the family;
• The Schulamt or another Schulbehörde becomes involved in cases of repeated or serious absences;
• In the case of Berufsschule, the training company may also be held responsible.

Usually, the process begins with reminders, conversations, written notices, and attempts to understand the reason for the absence. If absences continue, the school may refer the case to the Schulamt. Administrative measures may follow.

What Penalties Are Possible

Various measures may be applied for violations of Schulpflicht. The specific set of measures depends on the state, the child’s age, and the severity of the situation:

• Absences are recorded as “unentschuldigt”;
• Discussions with the homeroom teacher, school administration, or school social worker;
• written warnings to parents;
• Schulversäumnisanzeige to the Schulamt;
• A fine for parents, the teenager, or other responsible parties;
• Zwangsgeld or other administrative enforcement measures;
• Requirement to make up missed work or disciplinary measures;
• In some states, and in serious, systematic cases, there may be criminal consequences.

The exact amounts of fines are not uniform. For example, documents from the Berlin Senate Administration (Senatsverwaltung) indicate that a violation of Schulpflicht by parents may constitute an Ordnungswidrigkeit (administrative offense) punishable by a Bußgeld (fine) of up to 2,500 euros. In other states, the limits and procedures differ. Therefore, you should always check the table of fines against the current Schulgesetz (school law) of the specific state.

Vacation During the School Year

The most common conflict for migrant families involves going on vacation a day or two before school breaks begin or returning after they end. In Germany, this is not considered a “minor family exception,” but rather an unauthorized absence from mandatory classes.

The practical procedure is as follows:

1. Check your state’s official school calendar and your school’s calendar.
2. Do not purchase tickets for school days without written permission.
3. If you have a truly valid reason, submit an Antrag auf Beurlaubung in advance.
4. Wait for a written response.
5. Keep your permission slip with you during your trip.

Checks of families with school-age children at airports before school breaks have indeed occurred in various states. But what matters more than any single high-profile case is the principle: a vacation that’s just a couple of days shorter than allowed could result in a fine and a conflict with the school.

Children with Disabilities and Special Educational Needs

Schulpflicht also applies to children with disabilities. The modern approach in Germany increasingly emphasizes inclusion: a child can attend a regular school with support or a special education setting, depending on their Förderbedarf.

Older texts often use the term Sonderschule. Nowadays, different states use terms such as Förderschule, Förderzentrum, sonderpädagogisches Bildungs- und Beratungszentrum, and other variations. The essence is the same: a child must receive an education tailored to their needs, and the decision regarding the format is not made by the parents alone, but through school and special educational procedures.

If a disability or a health condition prevents regular school attendance, you should contact the school, the Schulamt, the Schulpsychologischer Dienst, or other relevant services. Issues regarding transportation, accompaniment, integration support, and special accommodations are handled on a state-by-state basis and according to the individual situation.

Common Mistakes Parents Make

• Assuming that a note citing “family circumstances” automatically justifies an absence.
• Do not purchase tickets for school days before receiving permission from the school.
• Do not report an illness in the morning and then provide an explanation retroactively.
• You’ll have to wait a long time for a school spot after moving without written contact with the Schulamt.
• Follow the rules of another state.
• Ignore the school’s initial letters regarding absences.
• Do not seek help if your child is avoiding school because of language barriers, bullying, anxiety, or health issues.

What to Check in Your State

Before making a decision about missing school, moving, or dropping out, check the following:

• The School Act of your federal state;
• the website of the Ministry of Education or the Senate Administration;
• a specific school’s rules regarding sick leave (Krankmeldung) and excused absences (Entschuldigung);
• the procedures for “Beurlaubung” and “Befreiung”;
• the duration of Vollzeitschulpflicht and Berufsschulpflicht;
• Consequences of unexcused absences;
• Contact information for the Schulamt and Schulsozialarbeit.

If you’ve already received a letter regarding Schulversäumnis or a Bußgeld, it’s best not to delay your response. Contact the school, explain the situation in writing, and, if necessary, seek advice from Elternberatung, Migrationsberatung, or an administrative law attorney.