Italy school costs: rising textbook prices and available subsidies

Families in Italy face varying levels of support and rising costs for the 2026 school year. Available financial aid includes a 19% Irpef tax deduction for education expenses, with a spending limit of 632 euros per dependent child. Other forms of assistance include nursery school bonuses of up to 3,600 euros, book vouchers for primary school, scholarships, and regional or municipal contributions for school meals and transport.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the rising cost of textbooks. In Sicily, the Unione Nazionale Consumatori (UNC) reported that while mandatory textbook costs often remain below legal spending ceilings, the inclusion of “recommended” texts can significantly inflate the total bill. For example, in a classical high school, mandatory books cost approximately 304 euros, but the total rises to nearly 588 euros when recommended volumes are included. This practice is criticized as a way to bypass established spending limits set for educational institutions.