Overview
- State lawmakers heard expert and association testimony on a proposal to mandate twice‑weekly pre‑school language classes for children flagged in a new statewide screening starting in 2028/29.
- Gelsenkirchen projected that roughly 60% of local children would need the courses, far above the state’s one‑third estimate of about 50,000 per cohort.
- Municipal associations said they lack buses, staff and rooms to run the classes and questioned whether the model can work under current constraints.
- Early‑education groups, parent representatives and the SPD favor support inside Kitas, with the SPD proposing a Chancenjahr that expands the final Kita year for children who need extra help.
- The government earmarked €250 million per year and says the flexible design will fit local needs, yet cities warned that staffing, transport and locations remain unresolved and costs could exceed the allocation.