Jena, March 31, 2026. The Staatliches Schulamt Ostthüringen has stopped the previous admission process with free school choice in Jena. In the future, the allocation of school places is to be based more heavily on the place of residence, which is causing great concern among parents and city politicians.
- Affected: Future school enrollments in Jena
- Measure: Repeal of the 2023 general decree on free school choice
- New Criterion: Allocation of school places primarily by place of residence instead of pedagogical concept
- Deadline: New regulation must be in place by May 2026 at the latest for the 2027/28 school year
End of Concept-Based Placement
Previously, no fixed school districts existed in Jena. A general decree from 2023 allowed school places to be allocated specifically according to the profile and pedagogical concept of the institutions. This regulation has now been repealed by the school office with reference to individual court decisions. This threatens a return to the classic allocation according to the residence principle, which, in the view of the city administration, does not fit the Jena school landscape.
Criticism from Parents and City Politics
The decision is met with broad resistance in Jena. Education Department Head Johannes Schleußner (SPD) warns that an important location factor could be lost, as schools have previously consciously promoted learning across district boundaries. Rosa Maria Haschke (CDU), chairwoman of the school committee, also emphasized that the Thuringian School Act explicitly allows for exceptions that Jena has used successfully until now.
Uncertainty is also growing among families. Berengar Lehr, school parent representative of the Gemeinschaftsschule Wenigenjena, reports on concerned parents. In the worst-case scenario, siblings could be assigned to different schools if the family moves, or students might have to learn at institutions whose pedagogical concept does not suit their needs.
Time Pressure in the Search for Alternatives
The city administration is now under pressure to act and is pushing for a quick agreement with the state and the responsible school office. As early as autumn 2024, Jena had submitted a revised version of the allocation rules. A letter regarding this to Education Minister Christian Tischner (CDU) in November 2025 remained unanswered, according to the city. A legally secure solution must be found by May at the latest to secure the admission process for the coming school year.
Background: The Jena School Landscape
Jena is characterized throughout Thuringia by a particularly diverse school landscape. In addition to traditional Gymnasien and Regelschulen, numerous Gemeinschaftsschulen and institutions with alternative pedagogical concepts (such as Jenaplan or Montessori) have established themselves. The previous system without fixed school districts promoted the mixing of the student body from different parts of the city and prevented segregation based purely on residential location. In many other regions of Thuringia, the strict assignment by place of residence (Schulsprengel) is the standard, especially for primary schools.
Source:
Schulamt stoppt freie Schulwahl in Jena – Eltern in Sorge
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.