French Court Requires Prime Minister Approval for School Grouping Policy
The Conseil d’État ruled that the continuation of 'groupes de besoins' in French schools must be authorized by a formal decree from the Prime Minister.
- The Conseil d’État ruled that the continuation of 'groupes de besoins' in French and math classes requires a decree from the Prime Minister, not just the Education Ministry.
- The measure, introduced in September 2024, groups students by skill level to address learning disparities, and remains in effect for the current school year.
- The court clarified that the Education Ministry can determine curriculum content but lacks authority to reorganize teaching structures without higher approval.
- The Ministry of Education announced plans to present a new decree in December to ensure the policy's legal compliance for the 2025 school year.
- The initial policy faced legal challenges from unions, a parents' federation, and ecological parliamentarians who questioned its implementation process.
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