# Bavarian school system reforms and enrollment growth > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bavarian-school-system-reforms-and-enrollment-growth > Updated: 2026-09-16T03:33:07.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. The 2026/27 school year in Bavaria began with record enrollment, reaching approximately 1.8 million students. This increase includes roughly 132,000 first-graders, the highest number in 15 years. To manage this growth and modernize the system, the state is implementing educational reforms. Education Minister Anna Stolz announced a shift toward a more diverse examination culture, incorporating presentations, projects, and debates alongside traditional written tests. Additionally, the state is maintaining a prohibition on private mobile phones in classrooms through the seventh grade and has increased school psychology staff by 20 percent. Resource management remains a challenge. While the state is hiring approximately 4,100 new teachers, a staffing moratorium is in place until the 2027/28 school year, leaving the teacher supply in a “very tense” state. Concurrently, officials have addressed school route safety, with the Interior Ministry announcing increased traffic controls to protect students commuting to school. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-16: Bavaria to reform school assessment methods and digital rules Bavaria will introduce new assessment formats, including presentations and debates, starting in the 2026/27 school year, while maintaining a ban on private mobile phones through grade seven. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bavaria-to-reform-school-assessment-methods-and-digital-rules ### 2026-09-15: Bavaria begins new school year with record enrollment Bavaria begins a new school year with 1.77 million students, facing record enrollment, teacher shortages, and heightened focus on school route safety and traffic enforcement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bavaria-begins-new-school-year-with-record-enrollment --- Cite as: Bavarian school system reforms and enrollment growth. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bavarian-school-system-reforms-and-enrollment-growth