Restrictions on Deferrals of School Enrollment and the Elimination of Preparatory Classes

9. July 2026

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Legal news

The so-called “deferral amendment” to the Education Act was adopted in 2025 as Act No. 239/2025 Coll., and its changes will take effect gradually over several years. It introduces new rules for deferring compulsory school attendance, changes enrollment deadlines, limits the number of times a student may repeat first grade, and, in subsequent years, will introduce verbal evaluations in the first two grades of elementary school as well as the gradual elimination of preparatory classes.

When can a child’s start of school be deferred, and what are the conditions for deferring school attendance?

The rules for deferring compulsory schooling are gradually becoming stricter. Under the new regulations , a deferral may be granted only if the child’s health condition prevents them from attending school on a long-term basis. Parents must document this fact with a medical evaluation—excluding evaluations by a family physician specializing in children and adolescents, a pediatrician, or a clinical psychologist—as well as an evaluation from a school counseling center. However, the new rules are being phased in based on the child’s date of birth. For example, during the 2026 enrollment period, the original rules still applied to children born on or after April 1, 2020.

Preparatory Classes: Abolition to Take Effect in September 2029

Preparatory classes and their abolition are another part of the changes to the Education Act. In 2026, preparatory classes are still in operation; their complete abolition is scheduled for September 1, 2029.

Starting this September, restrictions have been placed on the possibility of repeating first grade. First-grade students will typically advance to second grade regardless of their academic performance; repeating the grade will be permitted only in specific cases related to the child’s health.