Parents and guardians have from January 21st to February 10th, 2025, to secure their child's place in primary and secondary schools.
Here’s what families need to know about the registration process, including key deadlines, new regulations and the various educational options available.
Online Registration
For the first time, parents must complete school registrations exclusively online, using the The Unica platform provided by the Ministry of Education and Merit. This platform will serve as a central space where families can access all the necessary tools and information for the enrollment process, from school orientations to support services.
The extended registration period runs from January 21 to February 10, 2025, and it’s critical for families to meet the deadline to ensure their child’s place in the desired school. However, applications for nursery must be submitted in paper format at the school secretariats.
Age and vaccine requirements
Nurseries accept children aged three to five, provided they turn 3 by December 31. Children turning three by April 30, 2026, may also be enrolled upon request, but no children born after this date will be accepted. The standard nursery schedule is 40 hours per week, with flexibility for families to reduce hours to 25 or extend them up to 50 hours. Note that only one application per child can be submitted.
For primary schools, children who turn six years old by December 31 must be registered, with an option for early enrolment for children born by April 30, 2026. Families can also choose between different time options for the school week: 24, 27 or up to 30 hours for ordinary time, or 40 hours for full-time where available.
A key aspect of the enrolment process is the vaccination obligation for nursery school children. Parents must ensure that their children’s vaccinations are up to date, as the local health authorities (ASL) will verify this before finalising enrolment.
Physical education and curriculum changes
A significant change this year is the introduction of specialist physical education teachers for fourth and fifth-grade primary school students. Following a law passed in December 2021, two hours of physical education will now be taught by qualified specialists, added to the regular curriculum. These changes will increase the overall weekly timetable for primary school students when they enter fourth grade. However, this extra time will not impact full-time students, as their 40-hour week already includes physical education.
Extended and full-time options for secondary school
For enrolment in lower secondary schools (Scuola media), priority is given to students coming from primary schools within the same district. This means that students who have attended a primary school in the same local district will be prioritised over those coming from different districts or schools.
Music Courses
For families with high school-age students, there’s also the possibility of enrolling in specialised musical courses. These courses, introduced in 2023, require an orientation-aptitude test before enrollment. The test is mandatory and helps determine whether the student is suitable for the musical program. If places are unavailable, parents will have the opportunity to submit a new application to another school within 15 days of the deadline.
New paths in high school
A new "Made in Italy" high school pathway has been introduced, which will sit alongside technical and professional institutes. This program aims to align education with job market demands by focusing on equipping students with specific skills and knowledge such as design, craftsmanship and technology.
This new path will start with the first classes in the 2025/2026 school year, and families should be aware that the programme won’t reduce the number of students in the economic-social option of the high school of human sciences.
The 4+2 high school experiment
In an effort to better align education with future careers, Italy has introduced the 4+2 high school model, which provides students with the option to complete four years of high school followed by two years of specialised training in technical and professional institutes or university studies.
This experiment is designed to streamline the transition from high school to further education or employment.
Contributions and school fees
It’s important for parents to distinguish between voluntary contributions, which enhance the educational experience but are not mandatory, and school fees, which are only required for the last two years of high school.
Some families may be eligible for exemptions from school contributions based on economic conditions, with exemptions available for families with an ISEE below €20,000 or for specific groups, such as war orphans and children of disabled people. The contributions that schools request will be fully transparent.
Schools must inform families in advance about how these contributions will be used, and details will be available on each school’s website under the Transparent Administration section.
Religious education and homeschooling
During the enrolment process, families will also need to decide whether they wish to opt for Catholic religion teaching or select alternative activities.
This choice can be made at the time of online registration, and it will remain valid for the entire course of study, although it can be changed the following year. Additionally, for families choosing homeschooling, a paper submission must be made to the school principal along with the educational teaching project and proof of the family’s ability to provide education.
Students with disabilities
To register students with disabilities, families must submit a diagnosis from the local health authority (ASL). This documentation must be sent to the school promptly after being issued. Based on the information provided, the school may request additional support staff, such as teaching assistants or aids for autonomy and communication, with funding typically provided by the regional or local authorities.
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