Apply for recognition of a substitute school

Once the application documents have been received by the responsible office, they will be checked for completeness. You will be notified if any documents are still missing. Comprehensive and final processing is only possible once the complete documents have been received.

Specialist departments of the competent authority will be involved in examining the application for recognition. For example, the question of whether the school's internal curricula meet the requirements.

In addition, the requirements for the quality of preparation for the final examinations at lower and upper secondary level in comparison to state schools are also examined.

• In general, the following documents are required for the review of a potential recognition in the general education sector:
  
  • Proof of implementation of the class schedules for the respective school type and educational track
  • The school’s consent to the collection of performance data on graduation outcomes and transitions by the responsible authority (e.g., from standardized tests and final exams) 
  • School-specific curricula for the subjects German, mathematics, English, natural sciences, and social studies and politics in lower secondary school
  • additional curricula upon request, if applicable
  • School-specific curricula for all subjects in the introductory and qualification phases of upper secondary school (Gymnasium)
  • Submission of exams from the introductory and qualification phases for the review of written performance (regarding the assignment prompts, expected standards, and student work)
  • Submission of documentation regarding teachers’ professional development
  • Submission of sample report cards 

  In addition, classroom observations may be conducted by the relevant authority in selected grade levels.

• The following applies to vocational education: 
  
  • Proof of the personal reliability of the operator, the director, and the teachers in the form of an extended police clearance certificate with no entries, issued no more than 3 months ago
  • Proof of the professional qualifications of the teachers employed (master’s degrees, second state examination, job-related continuing education, proof of previous professional teaching experience)
  • Evidence that students are not segregated based on their financial circumstances
  • Students must be provided with information regarding the training objectives, admission requirements for training and examinations, class schedules by subject, costs of attending school, and termination rights. A sample training contract must be submitted,
  • an overview of all classrooms (including restroom facilities), 
  • a description of teaching and learning materials, as well as curriculum and training plans (the learning materials must meet the requirements and be appropriate for the number of students)
  • the regulation governing training and examinations applicable to the educational program
  • submission by the operating entity of a financial plan covering at least three years, which must demonstrate that the school is financially sound enough to ensure the completion of the training program
  • Evidence of the implementation of the class schedules for the respective educational program
  • The school’s consent to the collection of performance data on the degrees by the competent authority
  • Submission of sample report cards based on the report card regulations

  Upon request by the supervisory authority, the information necessary for the authority to carry out its duties must be provided, the required documents must be submitted in the form specified by the supervisory authority, and inspections of the properties and premises used for teaching, as well as classroom observations, must be permitted. 

  The operators of recognized alternative schools are also required to participate in quality assessments if conditions are comparable to those at public schools, as well as to submit data for statistical purposes.

  In addition, the competent authority may conduct classroom observations.

There is the cost regulation of the education administration (BiKostV). The administrative fee depends on how time-consuming the application processing is.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

The following applies to general education: Application (including application documents): by 30.09. of the calendar year prior to the year of the desired recognition
Note: Recognition can only be requested for the beginning of a school year.
The following applies to vocational education:
Application (including the application documents) at the latest 8 months before the start of the desired recognition/start of training

How long does it take to process

Not specified.

• Gesetz über das Privatschulwesen und den Privatunterricht (Privatschulgesetz)
• Bremisches Schulgesetz (BremSchulG)
• Kostenverordnung der Bildungsverwaltung (BiKostV)

• Genehmigung einer Ersatzschule