French parliamentary report proposes return to homeschooling freedom

A new parliamentary report presented to the French National Assembly’s Commission for Cultural Affairs and Education is advocating for a return to a declaratory regime for homeschooling (instruction en famille). The report, presented by deputies Josiane Corneloup and Vincent Trébuchet, critiques the restrictive authorization system established by the 2021 law aimed at combating separatism.

Critics, including the organization Juristes pour l’enfance, argue that the current law has transformed a long-standing educational freedom into a strictly controlled exception subject to administrative discretion. They contend that the 2021 legislation inverted the principle of parental primacy by allowing the State to decide what best serves a child's interest rather than relying on a simple declaration of intent.

Broader discussions regarding the French education system highlight a growing fragmentation. While public education serves approximately 80% of students, private sectors and homeschooling account for the remainder. Observers note a social stratification within these different educational modalities, prompting calls to reinvest in the public service to maintain national cohesion.