Daycare Act: Mandatory language tests for all four-year-olds approved
The Federal Cabinet today approved the draft for the so-called Start Opportunities and Quality Development Act. The core element is that, in the future, the developmental status of all children will be assessed no later than the age of four. The focus is on language; social-emotional and motor development as well as mathematical skills will also be recorded. Family Minister Karin Prien justifies this by stating that educational opportunities in Germany depend heavily on a child's home environment and that disadvantaged children should be supported earlier. The assessment is also intended to facilitate the transition to primary school.
For families whose children speak a different language at home, this is the most important change in years – and it is designed as support, not as a selection process. Daycare centers with a high proportion of children facing particular challenges are to receive up to 1.5 additional positions for language education and social work. The federal government will contribute around 9.25 billion euros to the implementation until 2034; an additional four billion euros in investment funds will be added by 2029. The states can also use money from the special fund.
Timing is important so that no one expects a request now that is not yet coming: The law still has to be passed by the Bundestag and is scheduled to come into force next year. The regulations will then not apply immediately, but rather gradually after a transition period, so that states, municipalities, and providers have time for implementation. Anyone with a child who is turning four soon should ask at their daycare center which procedure applies in their own federal state, as language proficiency assessments are currently regulated differently depending on the state and are conducted partly through the daycare center and partly through the pediatric and youth medical service of the health department. It is important to know: A determined need for support is not a disadvantage for the child, but rather the path to a claim for additional language support before starting school.