Starpath

Austria homeschool checklist

Leaving school

Send a withdrawal letter
Where: Bildungsdirektion and relevant public school
How: Written notification to Bildungsdirektion and school indicating intent to discontinue homeschooling and enroll in conventional school
When: Before start of school year (beginning of July) if withdrawing from homeschooling to attend school

Notification: Yes, annual
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

Instruction: Instruction must be equivalent to public school curriculum in all major subjects. Parents design and deliver lessons but must ensure content aligns with state curriculum requirements (Lehrplan). Instruction methods and materials are flexible provided equivalence is demonstrated through annual examinations.

Records: Not specified in legislation; however, parents should maintain records of curriculum, lesson plans, and student work to demonstrate equivalence if requested by authorities.

Testing: Mandatory annual Externistenprüfung (external examination) required at end of each school year in all major subjects. Examinations are conducted at a public school to verify that homeschooled children have attained main learning outcomes expected of schools. Results must demonstrate knowledge meets state curriculum requirements.
Assessment: Bildungsdirektion evaluates equivalence through annual exam results. Public authorities have the right to insist that home education be equivalent to (though not identical to) public school education. A school board may prohibit homeschooling only if instruction is not equivalent. If prohibited, families may appeal to the Bildungsdirektion.

Annual notification to Bildungsdirektion: Beginning of July (recurring annually)
Mandatory reflection talk (Reflexionsgespräch): Before end of school year (recurring annually)
Annual Externistenprüfung (external examinations): End of school year (recurring annually)
School year start: 1 September (recurring annually)

Schulpflichtgesetz 1985 (RIS) (www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10011390)
Oesterreich.gv.at - Compulsory School Education
Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz (RIS) (www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10000846)