{"id":7013,"date":"2026-02-26T15:00:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/?aur_infobereich=learn-about-special-education-schools-specialized-schools"},"modified":"2026-07-06T11:57:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T09:57:16","slug":"learn-about-special-education-schools-specialized-schools","status":"publish","type":"aur_infobereich","link":"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/?aur_infobereich=learn-about-special-education-schools-specialized-schools","title":{"rendered":"Learn About Special Education Schools &#038; Specialized Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Boarding Schools<\/h2>\n\n<p>A boarding school is an educational institution where students <strong>not only attend classes but also live, eat, and spend their daily lives<\/strong>, often as part of a close-knit community with intensive supervision by educational staff (teachers, counselors, and dorm parents). In certain family situations or when frequent job-related relocations are involved, it can be a sensible alternative to a traditional school.<\/p>\n\n<p>These are often high schools that prepare students for college or a career starting in 5th grade or only in high school. In addition, there are boarding schools with tracks for Hauptschule or Realschule, as well as those specializing in special education.<\/p>\n\n<p>Boarding schools also differ significantly depending on who operates them. In Germany, church-run boarding schools make up the largest group. In addition, there are state-run reform schools, private schools, facilities operated by the Christian Youth Village Association, public boarding schools run by the states, and elite sports schools.<\/p>\n\n<p>The costs for privately run boarding schools vary considerably and usually range from less than 1,000 euros to about 3,000 euros per month. For state-recognized degrees, parents can claim up to 5,000 euros per year in tuition as a tax deduction.<\/p>\n\n<p>You can find boarding schools in Germany that are members of the Association of German Private Schools <a href=\"https:\/\/privatschulen.de\/schulsuche\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternative School Models<\/h2>\n\n<p>In addition to the public school system <strong>,<\/strong> there are numerous <strong>alternative school models<\/strong> in Germany <strong>that are based on progressive educational approaches<\/strong>. Some of these schools are publicly funded\u2014such as certain Montessori elementary schools\u2014but the vast majority are run by private organizations.<\/p>\n\n<p>If your child plans to pursue vocational training or a college degree in Germany after graduating from high school, you should <strong>carefully consider<\/strong> what opportunities the respective diploma actually opens up. Equally important is the question of whether <strong>the qualification is state-recognized or based on external exams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>Alternative school models are generally based on a <strong>more open approach to learning<\/strong> than public schools. Creativity, personal responsibility, and self-directed learning play a major role in this process.<\/p>\n\n<p>Here are two examples:<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Montessori Schools<\/h3>\n\n<p>The central guiding principle of Montessori education is: \u201cHelp me to do it myself.\u201d Teachers encourage independent learning through close observation and, above all, rely on mixed-age independent work. In addition, integrated classes with peers are held to ease the transition to regular schools. Performance assessments are scheduled, often in the form of learning progress reports; grades are usually not given until the 4th grade. Since there are only a few Montessori high schools, students can earn their Abitur at only a few locations. Many Montessori schools follow an inclusive approach. While privately operated schools charge tuition, attendance at municipal Montessori schools is free of charge.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Waldorf Schools or Rudolf Steiner Schools<\/h3>\n\n<p>Waldorf schools are based on anthroposophy, a philosophy developed by Rudolf Steiner. There are about 200 state-recognized alternative schools in Germany. Character assessments replace traditional report cards; there is no provision for repeating a grade. In the early years, instruction is primarily organized into blocks of lessons taught by a permanent homeroom teacher, supplemented by subject-specific instruction, such as in foreign languages. All state-recognized high school diplomas, including the Abitur, can be earned at Waldorf schools. Since public funds cover only part of the costs, income-based tuition is charged.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group aur-service-kifa has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-primary-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-primary-background-color has-background aur-service-kifa\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"aur-service-kifa\">Would you like to receive free advice from our experts on the topic of schools and discuss your specific needs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons aur-service-kifa is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-03627597 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aur-service-kifa\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/?page_id=7004\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Schedule a consultation<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aur-service-kifa\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:08002961133\">Call directly for free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-primary-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-primary-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-00d6afec42ac7e3f5a8b580cc90bb5e2 is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3c8805c5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide\">Read more on this topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query alignwide is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-4 wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-e7fd85f5 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-6769 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-information-dossier tag-school tag-support-for-families\">\n<figure style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;\" class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/tension-conflicts-in-everyday-family-life\/\" target=\"_blank\"  ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0241-scaled.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Tension &#038; Conflicts in Everyday Family Life\" style=\"border-radius:20px;border-style:none;border-width:0px;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0241-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0241-408x272.jpeg 408w, https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0241-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0241-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0241-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0241-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.542), 1.2rem);\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-5e620162b98819f138df12ed9b9b0608 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-contrast-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/tension-conflicts-in-everyday-family-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Tension &#038; Conflicts in Everyday Family Life<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Special education and resource schools include various types of schools for children with special learning or support needs. These include schools for children with temporary learning difficulties, for gifted children, and for children with physical or intellectual disabilities. The goal is to address individual needs in a targeted manner and create appropriate learning conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Some of these schools operate as boarding schools to provide particularly intensive support and to further ease the burden on families.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"tags":[402],"class_list":["post-7013","aur_infobereich","type-aur_infobereich","status-publish","hentry","tag-school"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/aur_infobereich\/7013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/aur_infobereich"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/aur_infobereich"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awo-lifebalance.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}