Key takeaways
France used to have one of the more relaxed home education frameworks in Europe. That changed. Since the 2022-2023 school year, homeschooling in France requires prior government authorization – and getting it is harder than most families expect.
- Homeschooling in France (IEF) has required formal authorization since 2021 (Law 2021-1109), enforced from the 2022-2023 school year
- Families must reapply every year. No automatic renewal
- Approval is not guaranteed – the DASEN decides per-family, and rejection rates have been high
- Expat families using a WASC-accredited international online school operate under a different framework – but still need to verify their specific situation
Contents
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
The Legal Framework for Homeschooling in France
France made homeschooling significantly more difficult starting with the 2022-2023 school year. The change came from Law 2021-1109, passed under President Emmanuel Macron, officially titled the law “reinforcing respect for the principles of the Republic.” Homeschooling – known legally as instruction en famille or IEF, or informally as l’école à la maison – shifted from a declaration-based system to an authorization-based one.
Under the old rules, families in France simply notified their mairie (local town hall) that they intended to homeschool their children. That was it. Under the current legal framework, families must apply to their local DASEN for prior authorization before withdrawing a child from school. The authorization covers a specific academic year and must be renewed annually.
This is not a minor procedural change. Many families who had been homeschooling for years found their requests denied or restricted. The new law requires that children at home meet one of four approved grounds:
- The child’s state of health or disability makes school attendance impossible
- Intensive practice of a sporting or artistic activity
- Special family circumstances (travel, geographically isolated location, etc.)
- The existence of a suitable educational project tailored to the child’s needs
That fourth ground – “educational project” – is the most commonly used and the most scrutinized. Families must demonstrate not only that their educational plan is sound but that it addresses the child’s social development and social integration alongside academics.
“French law No. 2021-1109 to strengthen respect for the principles of the Republic is strongly restricting homeschooling. The list of exceptions to this ban on parental instruction is as limited as it is disturbing.”
— European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), UPR submission on France
What Triggered the Change?
President Emmanuel Macron’s government was explicit about the rationale. The law was framed partly as a response to concerns about radical Islamism and the education of children entirely outside the French public school system. The French government wanted all children educated within institutions that reinforce the values of the Republic – including civic education, social development, and the French national curriculum.
The result was a law that treats homeschooling in France not as a parental right but as an exception requiring justification. This was a significant departure from decades of French educational tradition.
Authorization: How It Works in Practice
Families must submit an authorization application to the DASEN before each school year – generally by mid-June for la rentrée (September start). The application typically includes an educational project document describing the curriculum, teaching methods, and how the child’s knowledge and skills will be assessed.
The DASEN decides. Approval is not automatic. Many families, particularly those using the educational project ground, report that many requests were rejected in the first wave after the law took effect. The 2022-2023 school year saw sharp drops in official IEF numbers across France.
“La loi n° 2021-1109 du 24 août 2021 confortant le respect des principes de la République restreint drastiquement la liberté éducative : l’instruction en famille est soumise à autorisation, selon 4 motifs définis. (Law No. 2021-1109 of 24 August 2021 on upholding the principles of the Republic drastically restricts educational freedom: home education is now subject to authorization, based on 4 defined grounds).”
If authorization is denied or if families fail to comply with annual inspections, the consequences are real. French authorities can require children to return to a public or private school. Failure to comply further can carry legal sanctions.
The Beaumont family – an American couple relocating to Lyon for a two-year assignment – applied for IEF authorization in June 2024. Their application was approved, but only after they resubmitted a revised educational project with a detailed subject-by-subject breakdown and a socialisation plan. The first version was rejected as too vague. Their advisor told them most families underestimate how specific the documentation needs to be.
Annual Inspections – What Are They?
Homeschooled children in France are subject to annual inspections by an academic inspection officer. These inspections check the progress of the child against national curriculum standards – not necessarily against the French national curriculum exactly, but against general national educational standards appropriate to the child’s age. The goal is to verify that the child is receiving education that enables their academic and social development.
A successful homeschooling inspection typically requires demonstrating measurable progress across core subjects, evidence of a structured educational plan, and signs that the child is not socially isolated.
What About Expat Families?
This is where things get more nuanced. The 2021 law and the new authorization requirement were directed primarily at French families choosing instruction en famille. Expat families – those in France on temporary visas, diplomatic postings, digital nomad permits, or short-term assignments – may have different options available depending on their residency status, visa type, and the specific circumstances of their move to France.
French compulsory education law generally applies regardless of nationality, and enrollment in an accredited international online school does not, by itself, exempt a family from the IEF authorization process or the DASEN’s oversight if the child is not attending a school recognized in France. Expat families should verify their specific situation – visa type, residency status, and how the receiving French authorities classify online-only enrollment – with a qualified French education or immigration lawyer before assuming an alternative applies.
Some of these families turn to an accredited international private online school as a structured curriculum option. Whether this arrangement sits outside the French IEF framework, or is still treated as a form of instruction en famille requiring DASEN authorization, depends on the family’s specific circumstances and should be confirmed with a qualified professional before enrollment.
Legacy Online School is WASC-accredited, operates in 30+ countries, and offers full K-12 programs: elementary, middle school, and online high school. Classes run live Monday to Friday with qualified teachers. 19 Advanced Placement (AP) courses are available alongside college guidance and part-time enrollment options for families who don’t need a full program.
Sarah and Thomas Müller, a German-British family based in Strasbourg, submitted an IEF application in May 2023 under the fourth ground – educational project. The rejection arrived in August, two weeks before la rentrée. They consulted a local education lawyer, then enrolled their son in Legacy’s online middle school within the following weeks while resolving their compliance path. The school year continued without interruption
Not a homeschool platform. An accredited private school – with a free trial class available before any commitment. See tuition and fees for current pricing, or contact the admissions team directly.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School
- Understand that authorization in France is not the same as registration. Approval can be refused, and it must be renewed every year. Plan your application timeline accordingly.
- If you’re an expat family in France on a temporary or non-permanent basis, check with a qualified French immigration or education lawyer before assuming your situation mirrors that of French nationals.
- Keep records of your child’s educational progress throughout the year. Inspectors will ask for evidence of learning – not just a curriculum plan.
- The educational project document is the most important part of your authorization application. It should be specific, structured, and address social development as well as academics.
- Consider supplementary programs – Advanced Placement (AP) courses, English Language Arts, college prep – as additions that strengthen your child’s academic record regardless of which primary schooling path you choose.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice. Laws on home education in France change frequently. The information above reflects the legal framework as understood at the time of writing and may not reflect subsequent changes. Families considering homeschooling in France or any alternative to state school attendance should consult a qualified French lawyer specializing in education law before acting.
