Education is a national public service, the organization and operation of which are provided by the State. However, the State has initiated decentralization measures since the 1980s to reinforce the weight of local authorities. Municipal communities, departments and the regions participate in the functioning of the national education.

Central level

The central government is responsible for:

• The overall legislation;
• The organisation and functioning of public education service (in coordination with local authorities);
• The definition of education pathways, training paths, national programmes, organisation and content of tuitions;
• The definition and award of diplomas, ranks and titles;
• The employment and management of the personnel (including their income);
• The repartition of funding so as to ensure equal access to the public service;
• The control and evaluation of educational policies in order to ensure consistency of the educational system;
• Educational tuitions coming under the ministries for defence, justice and foreign affairs;
• Inspections.

Regional and intermediate level

Regional authorities are responsible for:

• Ownership of high schools (lycées) and special schools;
• The general planning of training;
• The creation, construction, maintenance and operation of high schools, maritime vocational high schools, and establishments for special education;
• Participation in the universities' funding (Plan université 2000);
• School Transport (competencies transferred from the Departmental authorities between 2016 and 2017);
• The definition and implementation of the regional apprenticeship and vocational training policy for young people and adults looking for a job or a new career path.

Intermediate level

Departmental authorities are responsible for:

• The ownership and creation, construction, maintenance and operation of ordinary secondary schools (collèges);
• Organisation of school meals;
• Recruitment and management of non-teaching staff;
• The definition of sectors of recruitment of the various public colleges of the department  - in other words the school map of jurisdiction;
• The department can organise educational, sports, and cultural activities on school premises.

Local ​level

Municipal authorities are responsible for:

• The creation, construction, maintenance, and operation of primary schools (écoles élémentaires);
• The creation, construction, maintenance, and operation of pre-school classes (écoles maternelles);
• Public schools in their area of responsibility, including their construction, extension, maintenance and operation;
• The organisation of educational activities and complementary cultural and sports activities on a voluntary basis;
• Intervening on the financial affairs of families in regards to payments made to schools over school meals;
• The management of non-teaching staff;
• Determination of teaching hours of a school due to local circumstances if required;
• Determination of jurisdiction if several public schools exist on  a local community's territory;
• The creation of a school fund which is intended to facilitate attendance according to family resources;
• Financial participation by families is decided by the local municipality according to their income quotient.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Ministry of National Education and Youth

Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation

Sources

Code de l'Education [Code of Education], Articles L211-1 to L211-8, L214-1 to L214-16, L212-1 to L212-9, L213-1 to L213-10.

Local Authorities, Education, Government Website, Information 

Ministry of Education, Actors of the Education System: the State

Ministry of Education, Actors of the Education System: Collective Territories