French Parents Defy Education Ministry to Continue Homeschooling Children

A couple from Chazay-d’Azergues in the Rhône department has been found guilty of homeschooling three of their children without the required legal authorization, despite a formal refusal from the French National Education system.

The legal proceedings took place in Villefranche-sur-Saône, where the court addressed the parents’ decision to continue home instruction after the state had denied their request to do so.

Legal Framework for Homeschooling in France

The conviction of the parents in Chazay-d’Azergues reflects a significant shift in French educational law. While homeschooling was previously considered a fundamental freedom in France, the legal landscape changed drastically with the adoption of the law of August 24, 2021.

This legislation, often referred to as the anti-separatism law, reinforces respect for the principles of the Republic. Under these rules, children are required to attend either a public or private school. Homeschooling is no longer a right but a privilege that requires special permission from the Department of Education.

To obtain this authorization, which must be requested and renewed annually, parents must justify their request based on one of four specific reasons listed in the law. If the Ministry of Education denies the request, as occurred in the case of the couple from Chazay-d’Azergues, continuing to educate children at home is considered a legal offense.

Impact on Homeschooling Populations

The restrictive nature of the 2021 law has led to a sharp decline in the number of children being educated at home across France. According to data provided by the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), the number of homeschooled students was cut in half in the years following the law’s implementation.

In 2021, there were more than 60,000 students in homeschooling; by the 2024/2025 period, that number had fallen to just over 30,000 children.

Emmanuel Macron’s administration defended the restrictions by claiming that homeschooling could serve as a nest for the rise of radical Islam, although critics and legal organizations have argued that these accusations are unsubstantiated by facts.

International and Legal Challenges

The crackdown on educational freedom has drawn international attention and legal challenges. The ECLJ has referred the matter to a United Nations committee, specifically the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to argue that parents should remain primarily responsible for the education and instruction of their children.

One landmark case brought before the UN involves the parents of a girl named Noémie, who was prevented from being homeschooled with her older sister without any justification being provided to the parents.

Other homeschooling organizations, such as Choisir d’Instruire Son Enfant (CISE), have previously criticized the Ministry of Education for manipulating the legal process and ignoring the benefits of alternative pedagogies. These associations, including Les Enfants d’Abord (LED’A) and Libres d’Apprendre et d’Instruire Autrement (LAIA), have historically advocated for the protection of individual freedoms and parental rights in education.

The conviction in Villefranche-sur-Saône underscores the French state’s commitment to enforcing the 2021 law and its willingness to pursue legal action against parents who bypass the authorization process to maintain home-based education.