European Council Resolution Outlines EU's Strategy in Combating Poverty within Its Boundaries

In the heart of Baden-Württemberg, the city of Uster is spearheading a crucial initiative to calculate the anticipated costs of legally claimable childcare services. By the school year 2029/2030, over 454,000 elementary school children will be covered by this legal claim, marking a significant milestone in the region's educational landscape.

Currently, the care rate for the first four grades stands at 57 percent, with plans to increase it to 64 percent in the near future. This expansion is supported by all three municipal state associations, offering care of over 80 or over 200 hours. However, there is a point of contention with the Ministry of Culture regarding the existence and implementation of these offers.

The city council has expressed concern over the ministry's role in clarifying details about care services' closing times. A second major challenge lies in the qualification of the necessary additional staff. With around 25,000 care groups and full-day primary school offers in the state, this issue is far from trivial.

An example of the complexities arising from this challenge is when children attend schools in city A, which are closed during the first two weeks of the summer holidays, while schools in neighbouring city B are closed during the third and fourth weeks. This inconsistency poses a significant logistical hurdle.

To address these issues, a draft resolution has been proposed, urging adequate financial support from both the state and federal governments for the compulsory care. Discussions are underway about whether statewide regulations could be beneficial, particularly for families whose children attend school in different municipalities.

Many local stakeholders and associations believe that time is running out. Parents must register their claim for full-time care by mid-March 2026, and all regulations should be passed by the end of 2025. The city council anticipates that the compulsory care will have a significant financial impact, and the Municipal Association plans to discuss the calculation of the expected costs of the legally claimable care in May.

Starting from the school year 2026/2027, there will be a legal claim for a full-day elementary school place for 48 weeks a year. However, cities, districts, and municipalities have expressed concerns about the approximately seven million euros per year required for adequate qualification in the 2025/2026 double budget not being allocated. There are also challenges in organizing care during the four weeks a year when the legal claim does not apply.

Minister of Culture Theresa Schopper (Greens) emphasises Baden-Württemberg's commitment to offering a "high-quality full day," but the city council stresses the importance of appropriate qualification due to a lack of skilled workers. The Municipal Association argues that the switch from application-based state funding to flat-rate state funding is all the more urgent due to the increasing number of children in the primary school age being cared for in the future.

This complex issue requires careful consideration and collaboration between all parties involved to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children and families of Baden-Württemberg.

European Council Resolution Outlines EU's Strategy in Combating Poverty within Its Boundaries