Einschulung Stichtag by Bundesland
The school-entry cut-off date in 14 German states, with the corridor, Kann-Kind and deferral rules and the law or ministry page each comes from, October 2026.
As of October 2026, German states set the school-entry cut-off between 30 June and 30 September: 30 June in 8 of the 14 states listed, including Hamburg, Hesse and Schleswig-Holstein, 31 August in Rhineland-Palatinate, and 30 September in Bavaria (with a corridor), Berlin, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony and NRW.
Einschulung Stichtag by Bundesland
Frequently asked
Which German states have a 30 June school cut-off?
Baden-Württemberg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein, and Saarland according to the Bildungsserver table. Hamburg and Hesse count children born up to 1 July, because the 6th year of life is completed on 30 June. Bremen and Saxony also let 1 July to 30 September birthdays start on the parents' application or registration.
Why do German states have different school start dates?
School law is made by each Land. Under a 1997 Kultusministerkonferenz recommendation the states may set the cut-off anywhere between 30 June and 30 September, and may allow earlier starts.
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