Request for school exemption: model, what reasons?

By default, your child is registered in a school according to the geographical area where he lives. A sectoral organization otherwise called “school map“. However, whether for organizational or personal reasons, it is possible to request a derogation for school registration outside the sector (“outside the sector”): that is to say that the child may, by way of derogation, be assigned to another school (usually the one of your choice). How to draw up a school exemption? When to apply? What grounds are valid for obtaining the agreement of a derogation? We explain the procedure to you…

What is a school card?

Established in 1963, the school map designates a system for assigning pupils to a general or technological college or high school corresponding to their place of residence. If you wish to enroll your child in another establishment, you must make a request for exemption which will be satisfied if the reasons invoked are deemed admissible and if there is space in the desired establishment. Note that you generally have to apply for an exemption between March and April if your child is in kindergarten, primary or middle school. If he is in high school, this date depends on your child’s class and can be viewed on the school’s website.

What are the grounds for derogation from the school card?

There are a whole bunch of reasons why you can request an exemption for your child. This may be :

• to bring siblings together or facilitate childcare : for example, the establishment in which the child is registered by default may be far from your place of work, too far from the home of the person (grandmother, nanny, family friend, etc.) who will pick up your child at school or not sufficiently served by transport.
• The reason for the waiver request may be medical (for example if the student requires significant medical care near the requested establishment, if the student suffers from a disability recognized by the Rights and Autonomy Commission, or if the student must follow a particular school course…)
• It can also relate to attendance, the options available (rare modern languages, option cinema, theatre, etc.), or the school’s success rate.
• Please note that in the event of a lack of space in the requested establishment, some students have priority. : pupils with disabilities and benefiting from medical care close to the school, scholarship holders on merit and social scholarship holders, pupils who have a brother or sister attending school in the requested establishment, those whose domicile, in limit of service area, is close to the school, and students who follow a particular educational path.

Whatever the reason for the derogation request, it must be specified in the letter and attach the necessary supporting documents (medical certificate, employer certificate, proof of address, etc.). After examination of the request, the derogation may be accepted if the reason is considered valid and if the staff of the requested establishment allows it. Please note that the students of the sector remain of course priority and that you can only make one request for exemption per child. Finally, there is no need to request an exemption if you wish to enroll your child in a private establishment.

Download a school card waiver form

For some schools, it will be necessary download a form directly from the town hall website of the establishment in question. It will be necessary to specify the class of the child, your personal information, the composition of the household, the school requested, the reasons for the request and accompany this form with proof according to the reason for the request. After receipt of the form, the application (only complete applications are reviewed) is reviewed – usually in May during the derogation committee – by the school principals, the elected official in charge of Education, the school department and the representatives of the parents of pupils who will give an opinion, favorable or unfavorable before the end of June. And “as soon as you learn of the decision to assign your child, you must enroll him in the college or high school where he has been assigned by the academic director of the national education services“, specifies the National Education site. If the response to the request for exemption is positive, consider notifying the establishment on which the child initially depended.

Write a letter of derogation from school card

If you wish, you can also send a request for a school exemption to the Directorate of Departmental Services of National Education (DSDEN). This involves writing a letter addressed to the Mayor or Madam (if it is a kindergarten or primary school) or to the Inspector of the Academy (if it is a college or high school). It will be necessary to mention your personal information (surname, first name, address) as well as those of the child, the reasons for which you wish to derogate from the school card and the establishment requested. Please note: any waiver request (form or letter) must be sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt.

Request for derogation: our sample letter to print

In order to put all the chances on your side, take inspiration from this waiver request letter template :

Print the model

Application for a school exemption for a nursery or primary school

The derogation request for a nursery or primary school (form or letter) must be sent to the mayor of the city. Check with your town hall to find out how to send it. When should I send my waiver request? Generally, kindergarten registration takes place between March and April. This is when you can take the steps to request an exemption. For primary schools, check the timeline for waiver requests in the establishment requested: that is to say that the forms are generally available from the month of February. Do not delay in downloading them and remember to send them back as soon as possible, ideally before May. But do not worry : “before the end of the second trimester, the schedule of procedures will be communicated to you“, specifies the site of National Education.

Application for a school exemption for a college

College waiver request (form or letter) should be sent to the Principal of the college. When should I send my waiver request? You can submit your waiver request towards the end of the second term (March/April). To be sure not to miss the end of the procedure, consult the derogation calendar of the establishment requested (on its website or by contacting it directly by telephone)

Application for a school exemption for a high school

• Internally. If the establishment requested is in the same academy as the one on which the child initially depended, the request for exemption must be sent to the head of the establishment requested. Please note: if the reason concerns a request for a particular option (concerns the following options: LV3, languages ​​and cultures of Antiquity and sports sections), the derogation must be sent to the DSDEN (the Directorate of Departmental Education Services of your academy)
• Externally. If the institution requested is outside your home academy, the waiver must be sent to the DSDEN. (See the waiver rules for high school)

When should you submit your request for a school exemption?

The date on which your request for a school exemption is sent depends on the age of your child.

• If your child attends kindergartenyou must send your derogation request to the mayor of your municipality between March and April.
• If he is in primary, contact the desired establishment, which has its own exemption request calendar. You can send your waiver request to the principal of your child’s desired middle school between March and April.
• Know that colleges generally publish their schedule of proceedings on their website.
• If your child is in high school, address your request to the director of the school if he is in your academy. The sending dates depend on the class of your child but can be consulted on the establishment’s website. If the establishment you want is located outside your academy, you should contact the DSDEN.

What recourse in case of refusal?

It is possible to contest the decision of the academic director by an administrative appeal: either “gracious” before the author of the act or “hierarchical” by sending a letter to the rector of the academy requesting the withdrawal of the refusal, the re-examination of the request and access to the request, in a reasoned way. Parents can also challenge the decision by appeal to the Administrative Court. Please note that any appeal must be made within two months of receipt of the refusal.