Choosing between schools in Italy is one of the biggest decisions an expat family makes — and the system has quirks you won’t find on a school website. This guide covers how the system is structured, how public and private schools in Italy really differ, what to do when a teacher suggests the logopedista (speech therapist) for your bilingual child, and the actual rules on homeschooling — which, despite what you may have heard, is not illegal here.

The Italian system runs in clear stages, and school years follow the calendar year — children are grouped by birth year, not by a September cut-off:

Schooling is mandatory for ten years, from age 6 to 16, and the right to education continues until 18. The school year starts in mid-September and runs to June — worth knowing if you’re planning an arrival date.

“Private” in Italy splits into two very different categories, and the distinction matters more than the label:

State schools (statali) are free, follow the national curriculum in Italian, and assign places mainly by catchment area. Classes can be large, but academic standards are solid and children integrate into Italian life fastest here.

Paritarie are private schools with state recognition (“equal status”). They follow the national curriculum, must employ qualified teachers, and charge moderate fees — often a few thousand euros a year. Most are Catholic. Their diplomas carry the same legal value as state school diplomas.

Non-paritarie — including international schools — operate independently. They offer British, American, or IB curricula in English, smaller classes, and easier mid-year or short-term entry. That flexibility comes at a price: Rome’s international schools typically range from around €7,000 to well over €15,000 per year. A recognized international diploma is valid in Italy, but if your child may re-enter the Italian system later, check credit recognition carefully.

If your child’s teacher suggests a visit to the logopedista, don’t panic — it’s a routine referral in Italian schools, and it is not a diagnosis. The concern usually sounds familiar to expat parents: your child’s Italian lags behind classmates, or they speak with a strong accent.

Here’s what the research says, plainly: bilingualism does not cause speech or language delays. Bilingual children hit the same milestones on the same timeline — but their vocabulary is spread across two languages, so each individual language can look “small” when measured alone. A genuine delay shows up in both languages, not just the newer one. An accent in Italian after two years in the country is normal acquisition, not a disorder.

If a referral does happen, treat it as a free second opinion:

The public route (SSN): Your pediatrician (or the school) refers you to the local health authority (ASL). Public evaluation and therapy are nearly free — roughly €20 for the specialist visit and around €35 per ten-session cycle, depending on region. The trade-off is waiting lists, which vary enormously by area.

The private route: A private evaluation typically costs €100–250, and sessions run €40–100 each, usually 45–60 minutes. Private clinics are far faster and, in cities like Rome, increasingly experienced with multilingual children.

This comes up constantly in expat groups, often with the wrong answer attached: homeschooling is legal in Italy. The Constitution protects parents’ right to educate their children, and since 2000 the law has formally recognized istruzione parentale (parent-led education). What Italy doesn’t offer is a free-form version of it.

To homeschool lawfully, you must, every year:

1. Register your child with a state school in your area — this becomes your “supervising school” (scuola vigilante).

2. File a declaration (renewed annually, in the January enrollment window) stating you have the technical and economic capacity to teach, plus a draft educational plan aligned with the national curriculum guidelines.

3. Register your child for the annual esame di idoneità (fitness exam) at a state or paritaria school — the request deadline is April 30 for the first cycle. Your child must pass each year to move up, until the education obligation is fulfilled at 16.

From the 2025/26 school year, national rules also cap grade-skipping: a homeschooled student can sit exams for at most two year-levels beyond the one they’ve officially completed. If parents simply keep a child home without filing anything, the school reports the family to the mayor, and continued failure to comply can escalate to the juvenile court. In short: homeschool freely, but paper it properly.

Two rules surprise expat parents. First, foreign children enroll on the same terms as Italian children — schools must accept them at any time of year, and a child without a residence permit is still enrolled (with verification handled separately). Your child’s right to a desk doesn’t depend on your paperwork status.

Second, vaccinations matter for nursery-age children. Ten vaccinations are mandatory for ages 0–16 (polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, pertussis, Hib, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox). For scuola dell’infanzia (ages 3–6), an unvaccinated child can lose their place. For primary school and above, vaccination gaps don’t block enrollment — but the health authorities will follow up, and fines of €100–500 are possible for unvaccinated minors.

You’ll also need your child’s for enrollment, plus birth certificates (an official translation or apostille version smoothes everything).

Can my child attend a local Italian school without speaking Italian?
Yes — state schools routinely welcome foreign children with no Italian and provide dedicated support, especially in primary school. Younger children typically pick up the language within months.

Is homeschooling illegal in Italy?
No. Homeschooling is legal and recognized as istruzione parentale, but it is regulated: annual registration with a supervising school, a yearly declaration, and an annual exam your child must pass.

Will being bilingual delay my child’s speech?
No. Research consistently shows bilingualism does not cause delays. Count your child’s total vocabulary across both languages — and if a real delay exists, it will appear in both.

How much do private schools in Italy cost?
Paritarie typically charge a few thousand euros a year. International schools run from roughly €7,000 to over €15,000 per year in Rome, depending on the school and age group.

Can we enroll mid-year if we arrive after September?
Yes. Schools must enroll foreign children at any point in the year. A mid-September arrival is ideal, since the Italian school year starts then anyway.

Thousands of expat parents navigate schools in Italy every year — and many of them share firsthand experiences in our free community every week. Join us here: