Homeschooling in Austria
Legal with notification and yearly public exams.
Homeschooling (haeuslicher Unterricht) is legal in Austria during compulsory schooling ages 6-15 under the Schulpflichtgesetz 1985. Parents must notify the Bildungsdirektion before the school year and children must pass annual exams at a public school to demonstrate equivalence. Failure to meet standards results in discontinuation and school attendance.
Quick Reference
School Days
-
No minimum
Hours Required
-
No minimum
Subjects
0
required
Notification
Yes
annual
Key Requirements at a Glance
- Notification to Bildungsdirektion required before start of school year (beginning of July).
- Bildungsdirektion reviews and may disallow if instruction likely inferior.
- Annual Externistenprüfung at end of school year in major subjects.
- Instruction must be equivalent to public school curriculum.
- No specific parent qualifications required.
- Appeal possible if homeschooling prohibited.
- Compulsory schooling (Schulpflicht) ages 6-15.
- Ausbildungspflicht follows until 18.
Legal Framework
Schulpflichtgesetz 1985 (SchPflG), key provisions in §§ 11 and 13 for häuslicher Unterricht; responsible authority: Bildungsdirektion (regional education authority).
Filing Requirements
What to file
Anzeige des häuslichen Unterrichts
When
Beginning of July before school year start
Where
Bildungsdirektion (regional education authority for the state)
How to submit
Written notification to local Bildungsdirektion office
What to include
- • Intent to homeschool; child's name and date of birth; confirmation that instruction will be equivalent to public school standards
Notification must be submitted before the summer holiday period. Bildungsdirektion reviews and may prohibit if instruction is likely to be inferior to public school education. A mandatory reflection talk (Reflexionsgespräch) must occur before end of school year between school and family.
How to Get Started
- 1
Review Austrian state curriculum (Lehrplan) for your child's age group
- 2
Develop or select equivalent curriculum materials and instruction plan
- 3
Notify Bildungsdirektion in writing at beginning of July before school year
- 4
Prepare for mandatory reflection talk with school before end of first school year
- 5
Register child for annual Externistenprüfung at designated public school
- 6
Complete end-of-year examinations in all major subjects
- 7
Maintain records of instruction and student progress
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Legally protected constitutional right
- ✓No parental qualifications needed
- ✓Flexible, personalized instruction
- ✓Responsive to individual learning styles
- ✓Appeal mechanism if initially prohibited
Cons
- •Annual public examinations mandatory
- •Strict equivalence standard enforced
- •Risk of prohibition if standards not met
- •Limited to compulsory schooling ages only
- •Requires significant parental time commitment
Questions about homeschooling in Austria
At what age can children start homeschooling in Austria?
Homeschooling (häuslicher Unterricht) is permitted starting on 1 September following a child's sixth birthday, when compulsory schooling (Schulpflicht) begins. It may continue until age 15, when compulsory schooling ends. After age 15, Ausbildungspflicht (compulsory education/training) applies until age 18 and must be fulfilled through secondary schooling or apprenticeship, not homeschooling.
Do parents need teaching qualifications to homeschool in Austria?
No. The Austrian Constitution (Staatsgrundgesetz Article 17) and Schulpflichtgesetz 1985 do not require parents to possess formal teaching credentials or qualifications to instruct their children at home. Parents may homeschool their own children without special certifications.
What happens if my child fails the annual Externistenprüfung?
If a homeschooled child does not meet state curriculum standards on the annual external examination (Externistenprüfung), the Bildungsdirektion may prohibit continuation of homeschooling. The child would then be required to enroll in a conventional school. Families have the right to appeal the prohibition decision to the Bildungsdirektion before being required to withdraw from homeschooling.
When must I notify the Bildungsdirektion about homeschooling?
Parents must notify the Bildungsdirektion (regional education authority) at the beginning of July before the school year starts in September. This notification must be submitted annually if continuing homeschooling. Late notification may result in the homeschooling arrangement not being approved for that school year.
What curriculum must homeschooled children follow in Austria?
Homeschooled children must receive instruction that is equivalent to the Austrian public school curriculum (Lehrplan). While parents have flexibility in teaching methods and materials, the content and learning outcomes must align with state curriculum standards. Equivalence is verified through annual Externistenprüfung examinations in all major subjects.
Can homeschooled children participate in school sports and activities?
Homeschooled students may participate in community sports clubs and associations independently. Access to school-based sports and extracurricular activities depends on individual school policies and Bildungsdirektion approval; participation is not automatically guaranteed for homeschooled children.
What is the Externistenprüfung and when does it occur?
The Externistenprüfung is a mandatory annual external examination that homeschooled children must take at the end of each school year at a public school. Examinations cover all major subjects and are designed to verify that homeschooled students have attained the main learning outcomes expected of public school students and meet state curriculum requirements.
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Last updated: 2026-04-26 · AT homeschool law guide