# Chile school admission reform moves forward > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/chile-school-admission-reform > Updated: 2026-08-26T19:46:31.000Z. Sources: 48. Developments: 7. In early July 2026, the Chilean government announced a reform of the Sistema de Admisión Escolar (SAE) to shift secondary-school placement from random assignment toward merit-based selection. The Chamber of Deputies approved the bill on 5 August with a 111-28-1 vote. The legislation creates a “mutual choice” system where high-demand schools can set transparent priority criteria, such as sibling attendance, alignment with the school’s educational project, specific aptitudes, or being a child of staff or alumni. It requires a single online application platform, bans fees and socioeconomic data collection, and emphasizes transparency, inclusion, equity, and non-discrimination. Education Minister María Paz Arzola stated the changes aim to restore confidence and recognize effort, noting the current system has been in place for ten years and requires updating. The Senate placed the reform on its agenda for a second constitutional reading on 5 August to deliberate on the priority-criteria framework. Parallel to the legislative process, the main application period for the 2027 School Admission System (SAE) is currently underway, covering municipal, public education service (SLEP), delegated administration, and subsidized private schools. Authorities have emphasized that the system does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis, encouraging families to select multiple preferences. As of 26 August, the SAE is entering the final stage of its main application period, which closes on Thursday, 27 August, at 14:00 hours. While students currently enrolled in a school do not need to reapply to remain in the same institution, new applications are mandatory for those changing schools, moving to a different educational level not offered by their current school, or transitioning from private to state-funded institutions. Results for the main application period are expected to be released between 15 and 21 October. ## Claims - The Chamber of Deputies approved the school admission reform with 111 votes in favor, 28 against, and one abstention. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The reform aims to increase the weight of merit and reduce the role of random allocation in school admissions. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The bill was sent to the Senate for a second constitutional debate. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The reform introduces a mutual‑choice mechanism allowing high‑demand schools to set priority criteria. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Priority criteria include sibling attendance, adherence to the school project, specific aptitudes, and being child of school staff or alumni. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The Ministry of Education will maintain a single online platform for applications and prohibit charging fees or requiring socioeconomic data. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Minister María Paz Arzola said the current system has been in place for ten years and needs updating. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Some deputies warned that the reform could increase discrimination in school access. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The main application period for the 2027 School Admission System (SAE) has opened. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The application deadline is August 27 at 14:00 hours. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The system does not assign students based on the order of application arrival. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The application process covers municipal, public education service (SLEP), delegated administration, and subsidized private schools. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-26: Chile updates Carabineros recruitment and SAE school admissions Chilean Carabineros has extended Officer School applications to 2026 and lowered the minimum age to 17. Meanwhile, the 2027 School Admission System (SAE) applications close August 27. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chile-updates-carabineros-recruitment-and-sae-school-admissions ### 2026-08-22: Global educational updates: New school cycles and enrollment deadlines Educational institutions across Mexico, Spain, and Chile are managing the start of new academic cycles, rising school costs, and upcoming enrollment deadlines for 2026 and 2027. 29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senaju-opens-applications-for-perus-national-youth-prize ### 2026-08-19: Chile opens 2027 School Admission System (SAE) applications Chile has opened the 2027 School Admission System (SAE) application period. Families must apply online by August 27 at 14:00 to secure spots in municipal, public, or subsidized schools. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chile-opens-2027-school-admission-system-sae-applications ### 2026-08-07: Chile opens school admission process for pre‑kindergarten Chile opened its SAE enrollment on Aug 4, letting families apply for pre‑kindergarten spots and stressing early education benefits. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chile-opens-school-admission-process-for-prekindergarten ### 2026-08-05: Chile Senate moves school admission reform to second reading Chile's Chamber approved a school admission reform to boost merit, add a mutual‑choice system, keep a single online platform and ban fees; the bill now heads to the Senate for a second reading. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chiles-chamber-of-deputies-passes-school-admission-reform-bill ### 2026-07-29: Chile debates reforms to school admission system (SAE) Chile debates reforms to its school admission system, weighing merit‑based selection for secondary schools against concerns about applying merit to early‑grade students. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chile-moves-to-adjust-school-admission-system-amid-merit-debate ### 2026-07-03: Chile pushes reform of school admission system to restore merit Chile's President Kast proposes a bill to replace the lottery‑based school admission system with a mixed merit‑based and choice model, adding mutual‑choice criteria and limited random allocation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chile-pushes-reform-of-school-admission-system-to-restore-merit --- Cite as: Chile school admission reform moves forward. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/chile-school-admission-reform