Applying for approval of an alternative school

If you want to set up and run a substitute school, you will need a permit before you start operating the school. You must apply for this in good time beforehand at the responsible Regional State Office for Schools and Education.

Ersatzschulen are independent schools whose learning and educational objectives correspond to those of public schools that exist or are planned in principle in the state of Lower Saxony. Deviations in the teaching and educational methods and in the subject matter are permitted. Pupils fulfill their legal obligation to attend school by attending an alternative school.

Alternative schools are subject to approval. Proof of equivalence with public schools in terms of learning objectives and facilities as well as the training of teaching staff is required for approval. The level of school fees must not be used to segregate pupils according to their parents' wealth.

Private primary and secondary modern schools can only be approved if

• the education authority recognizes a special educational interest of the state in the school or
• they are to be established at the request of parents or guardians - as a community school, a denominational or ideological school and a public primary or lower secondary school of this type does not exist in the municipality.

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Regional State Office for Schools and Education Braunschweig

Department 1 Legal Department

Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 21

38102 Braunschweig

Fax no.: +49 531 484-3483

Service point no.: +49 531 484-3333

E-mail address: service@rlsb-bs.niedersachsen.de

Elevator available: yes

Wheelchair accessible: yes

Regional State Office for Schools and Education Hanover

Department 1 Legal Department

Mailänder Str. 2

30539 Hanover

Fax no.: +49 511 106 99-2853

Service point no.: +49 511 106-6000

E-mail address: service@rlsb-h.niedersachsen.de

Elevator available: yes

Wheelchair accessible: yes

Regional State Office for Schools and Education Lüneburg

Department 1 Legal Department

Auf der Hude 2

21339 Lüneburg

Fax no.: +49 4131 1545-2930

Service point no.: +49 4131 15-2222

E-mail address: service@rlsb-lg.niedersachsen.de

Schulorganisation@rlsb-lg.niedersachsen.de

Elevator available: yes

Wheelchair accessible: yes

Regional State Office for Schools and Education Osnabrück

Department 1 Legal Department

Winkelhausenstr. 22

49090 Osnabrück

Fax no.: +49 541 77046-8103

Service point no.: +49 541 77046-444

E-mail address: service@rlsb-os.niedersachsen.de

Elevator available: yes

Wheelchair accessible: yes

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Fulfillment of the definition of a school:

Schools are permanent educational establishments in which general or vocational education is provided for at least 12 pupils for a period of at least six months in accordance with an educational plan.

Adult education institutions, universities and independent educational institutions are not schools.

Sponsorship:

Independent schools can be run by

• natural or legal persons under private law or
• religious or ideological communities that have the rights of a public corporation.

Qualifications of the school management:

The school management must be suitable for the administration and management of the alternative school. They must have specialist academic training that is at least equivalent to that of teachers at corresponding public schools. There must be no facts indicating that he/she cannot guarantee that he/she will not violate the constitutional order.

Teaching staff:

Teachers at alternative schools must

• proof of professional and pedagogical training (examinations) that is equivalent to that of teachers at corresponding public schools, or
• proof of the teacher's academic and pedagogical aptitude must be provided by other equivalent achievements.

In addition, the economic and legal position of the teachers must be sufficiently secure.

School facilities:

The school facilities must meet the general legal and regulatory requirements.

There must be suitable school premises that have been approved as such under building law and are available for long-term use as property or rental property.

Meaningful pedagogical concept:

A meaningful pedagogical concept including lesson planning etc. is required.

For certain school types (elementary school, secondary modern school), a special pedagogical interest in the establishment of an alternative school, which is to be established alongside or in addition to the range of public schools, must be substantiated/proven.

In the event of a rejection, administrative legal recourse is available.

The rejection will be accompanied by specific instructions on how to appeal, indicating the deadline for taking legal action and the competent administrative court.

• It is recommended that you contact the Regional State Office for Schools and Education by telephone before submitting your application for an initial consultation.
• After the application documents have been submitted to the Regional State Office for Schools and Education, it will check the completeness and accuracy of the application documents and, in particular, the equivalence of the educational offer and, if all requirements are met, will grant approval.
• If necessary, missing documents can be requested.
• If you have any questions about the approval procedure, please contact the Regional State Office for Schools and Education.

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The amount of the fee is based on the actual administrative costs. The fee range is between € 500.00 and € 3,000.00 in accordance with Section 77.1.1 of the Annex to the Ordinance on Fees and Expenses for Official Acts and Services (General Fee Regulations -AllGO-).

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The alternative school is to be granted state recognition upon application if it offers the guarantee that it permanently fulfills the requirements placed on similar or equivalent public schools.

The school-leaving qualifications attainable at state schools can only be attained at a substitute school once it has been granted state recognition. As long as an alternative school is not yet state-recognized and no special state regulation expressly stipulates otherwise, it is possible to obtain a qualification by means of a so-called non-pupil examination before a state examination board.

In any case, financial aid can only be granted after state recognition has been awarded or after special educational significance has been established. The waiting period before financial aid is granted is generally three years; it may be shortened under certain conditions.

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