Inquiring about anyone with personal experience enrolling kids in Italy's public school system while on extended travel of six months. Please comment for elementary age children. The web indicates that school registration is rather easy. What are your experiences?
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1092 posts
Hello Dmuir, and welcome to the forum!
What is your visa/residency status that allows you to stay in Italy for 6 months?
Will you be in Italy for the enrollment window for the children? (I believe it's Jan-Feb)
Do the children speak Italian at an age appropriate level?
I think all these things may factor into the answers.
=Tod
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
546 posts
https://www.mim.gov.it/studenti-stranieri-inserimento-nelle-scuole-italiane%e2%80%af
As stated by the Italian law every foreign minor in Italy has the right to be inscribed to the public school. Probably could be verified the level of the language and the skills. Normally the students are inscribed at the beginning of the year (before September), but is not so unusual kids arriving later or even staying not for the whole year.
To be inscribed in primary school the child must be in the range 6-10 years old.
Probably is much better if you ask to the US Embassy the right procedure to enroll the kids in the Italian school: https://it.usembassy.gov/ As told above greatly depends by your VISA status, where you live and so on.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2297 posts
You might enjoy Michelle Damiani's book Il Bel Centro. They are Americans with 3 kids and spent a year in Spello, with the kids in school.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16043 posts
I am assuming you will be there for work and not to travel around like a nomad. Which city will you be based in? There are American schools in Italy where American expatriates enroll their kids. They are located in cities with a substantial presence of American expatriates, or American diplomatic personnel, or American military personnel at NATO bases. Rome, Florence, and Milan, having a large US expatriates presence have American schools K-12. Naples, has also several being the headquarters’ of the NATO Southern Europe command. Vicenza, Brescia, Aviano, being the locations of major NATO bases have American K-12 schools. I’m sure there are others. The US Embassy in Rome or the US Consulates in Rome, Florence, Milan, Naples, should also be able to help you on that regard.