Berlin Senate Tackles Record Student Enrollment With Funding and Legal Reform

Berlin recorded approximately 408,000 students in the 2025/26 school year, an increase of over 4,000 from the year before. The Berlin Senate responded with a 2026-2027 budget that assigns 1.9 billion euros to school construction, renovation and maintenance, with the goal of adding 15,000 new school places and completing 13 new schools by 2027/28.

Infrastructure Spending and Capacity Growth

The approved budget targets physical expansion of school facilities across the city. Funds will support both new buildings and upgrades to existing sites, directly addressing the rise in student numbers documented for the current school year. Local transport operators BVG and S-Bahn are also referenced in related service changes that will affect daily student movement.

Berlin School Law Adjustments

A new Berlin School Law passed in early July 2026 introduces compulsory preschool education of 35 hours per week for non-German-speaking three-year-olds. The law also removes the probationary year at Gymnasiums and adds an eleventh compulsory school year that began in 2025/26. These measures apply uniformly across Berlin districts and are intended to support language acquisition and extend the period of structured education.

Teacher Workload Reductions

Starting in the 2026/2027 school year, teachers will see workload changes that include smaller class sizes in areas with greater challenges, one dedicated day each week for learning progress meetings, and reduced teaching hours for staff over the age of 63. The adjustments are part of the same package of local decisions responding to enrollment pressure.

Full-Day Care and Integrated Transport

From August 1, 2026, every first-grade student in Berlin will be entitled to full-day after-school care. The student ID card will simultaneously incorporate authorization for travel on BVG and S-Bahn services, simplifying daily routines for families. These provisions build on existing city transport and care networks already used by Berlin residents.

Implementation of the budget measures, the new school law provisions and the care entitlement will unfold over the next two school years. Families can consult the Berlin Senate education department and individual school administrations for enrollment and eligibility details as the changes take effect.