Germany approves mandatory development screenings for four-year-old children
The German government has approved a draft law providing for mandatory screening of language and overall development for all children no later than when they reach four years of age. If the screening reveals delays, the child must receive additional support before starting school.
The federal cabinet approved the draft law on starting opportunities and improving the quality of early childhood education on September 2. The bill will now be considered by the Bundestag.
The new rules stipulate that screening will be mandatory for all four-year-old children regardless of family background or social status. Particular attention is planned to be paid to language proficiency, but the screening will not be limited to German only.
According to Tagesschau, specialists will also evaluate the child's socio-emotional and motor development, as well as basic mathematical abilities. If a need for additional preparation is identified, diagnosis must be followed by an appropriate support program.
Additional help for kindergartens
At the same time, the government intends for the first time to establish uniform quality standards for early childhood education across Germany. Currently, a significant part of the requirements for kindergartens is determined at the federal state level.
Additional funding is provided for kindergartens attended by a large number of children from families in difficult social circumstances. When distributing support, the financial situation of families, the language spoken at home, and the level of children's language development will be taken into account.
Such kindergartens will be able to receive up to 1.5 additional staff positions for language support and social work.
The government also expects to make the transition from kindergarten to primary school smoother. Federal Minister of Education and Family Affairs Karin Prien stated that differences in children's educational opportunities arise even before they start school, and becoming significantly more difficult to compensate later.
Germany to allocate €9.25 billion
To implement the reform, the federal government plans to allocate approximately €9.25 billion to the states from 2027 over eight years — until 2034.
Additionally, around €4 billion in federal funds is provided for investments in preschool infrastructure by 2029. States will also be able to use funds from a special infrastructure fund for relevant projects.
The law is set to take effect in 2027. Individual requirements will be introduced gradually after a transition period so that states, municipalities, and kindergarten operators can prepare for the new rules.
Thus, screenings for four-year-old children are not yet mandatory: on September 2, the federal government approved them as part of a draft law that must still gain parliamentary support.
Based on materials from: The German Government, Tagesschau
