Paris Municipal Elections 2026: What do the candidates’ proposals for education really say?

Education remains a key issue ahead of the 2026 municipal elections in Paris (March 15 and 22). School facilities, after-school programs, and education policies: here are the candidates’ proposals for the city’s future.

Paris is gearing up to elect its next mayor in March 2026. The municipal elections are scheduled for March 15 and 22, conducted in a two-round system, but with a novel voting process for residents of the capital. For the first time, voters will need to cast two separate ballots: one to choose their district councilors and another to elect the Paris city councilors, who will then be responsible for selecting the mayor of Paris. This marks a significant change in how municipal votes are conducted in the city.

One of the key issues for Parisians is education, which ranks high on the list of concerns. This is no surprise, as the city is actively involved in the daily lives of Parisian families through the management of schools, after-school services, and local educational policies: cafeteria options, childcare services, academic support, and various modes of assistance and educational partnerships are all tools at the municipality’s disposal. These factors shape the organization of school schedules, support for parents, and student achievement, which explains why this topic features prominently in local political agendas.

The City of Paris has tangible responsibilities when it comes to education:

She oversees public preschools and elementary schools and helps maintain the school buildings;
She organizes and funds school meals and after-school care;
She implements extracurricular educational and sports activities, often working in coordination with local districts;
She can also provide financial support for additional educational projects such as community groups or workshops.

These policies are reflected daily through access to family services, support for students before and after school hours, and budget decisions that directly impact the quality of facilities and educational programs.

So, if education is one of your top concerns, Sortiraparis invites you to explore a summary of the proposals from the leading candidates for the Paris mayoralty on this topic. This overview is based on publicly available information such as official campaign websites, press releases, and media reports. The goal: provide readers with factual insights to help them form their own opinions.

Proposals on Education for the 2026 Paris Municipal Elections:

Please note that these proposals are updated regularly as programs are released and candidates are announced. In some cases, detailed measures have not yet been specified in publicly available sources; such omissions are noted accordingly.

Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons – Backed by Renaissance)

So far, there are few detailed proposals explicitly related to education in the available program outlines. However, a few ideas do stand out:

Implement background checks for activity leaders and after-school staff, along with creating monitoring pairs (Sources: Le Parisien and Citoyens.com)
Systematically install video surveillance cameras outside schools and collèges (Source: Valeurs Actuelles)
Equip schools and collèges with emergency alert buttons connected directly to police stations (Source: Valeurs Actuelles)
Provide minimum service in case of strike disruptions (Source: Citoyens.com)
Shift the start time of middle school classes to 9 a.m. to better respect teenagers' sleep patterns (Source: Le Parisien)
Redesign the after-school program by training and qualifying staff (Sources: France24)
- Introduce random spot checks on after-school staff.
- Invest €8 million in staff training.
- Secure permanent contracts for activity leaders and offer bonuses.
Extend after-school care hours until 7 p.m. (Sources: France24)
Organize green-class trips and residential colonies for students (Source: France24)
Launch a major renovation plan for public schools (Source: France24)
Develop adolescent well-being initiatives, including collecting smartphones at school entrance (Source: Le Parisien)
Conduct surprise audits and regular checks of after-school staff (Source: Le Singulier)
Extend after-school care hours until 7 p.m. (Sources: Le Singulier)

Blandine Chauvel (NPA)

No concrete proposals or specific security measures have been announced on the party's premises as of February 16, 2026.

Sophia Chikirou (La France Insoumise / Nouveau Paris Populaire)

Here are the candidate's detailed proposals:

Make school meals free for families with the lowest income levels and increase the progressive nature of the pricing system. (Source: official candidate site)
Ensure support for all children with disabilities, including the creation of specialized inclusion staff and comprehensive training for educational personnel. (Source: official candidate site)
Guarantee the consistent presence of a nursery school educator (ATSEM) per class and staff trained in hygiene during extracurricular hours. (Source: official candidate site)
Strengthen school health services to enable annual medical check-ups for every student. (Source: official candidate site)
Transform extracurricular activities into a genuine educational service, respecting national staffing ratios and hiring permanent staff. (Source: official candidate site)
Stabilize extracurricular teams by reducing reliance on temporary workers and offering permanent positions or contracts to precarious staff. (Source: official candidate site)
Build a professional pathway for after-school staff, with enhanced training programs and career advancements from level C to level A. (Source: official candidate site)
Expand free support services for homework help and strengthen educational, cultural, and sports workshops in collaboration with local associations. (Source: official candidate site)
Modernize school and sports facilities to improve their accessibility and proximity. (Source: official candidate site)
Adapt schools to health and climate challenges by renovating sanitary facilities, improving ventilation, and transforming playgrounds. (Source: official candidate site)
Enhance partnerships with local associations and social centers through dedicated governance and multi-year funding. (Source: official candidate site)
Promote the use of public education by limiting municipal support for private schooling to legal obligations and increasing transparency around funding. (Source: official candidate site)
Implement a permanent municipal anti-racism education program across extracurricular activities, youth centers, and municipal facilities. (Source: official candidate site)
Systematically train municipal staff working with minors to identify and address racist situations. (Source: official candidate site)
Create a municipal inquiry commission to investigate issues within Paris’s extracurricular sector, analyze dysfunctions and responsibilities, and examine supervision conditions, especially following reports of violence. (Source: Le Parisien)
Make “Parisian municipal education” a core pillar of city policy by strengthening the city’s role in education, alongside the national education system, particularly through extracurricular activities and local educational initiatives. (Source: RTL)

Rachida Dati (Les Républicains/MoDem/UDI)

So far, there are few detailed proposals explicitly related to education in the available program outlines. However, a few ideas do stand out:

Introducing a four-day school week
Implementing supervised study sessions after school
Hiring only qualified, trained, and certified activity leaders
Strictly vetting all applicants: criminal background checks, verification against the FIJAIVS sexual violence offender registry, and thorough background and environment investigations
Reducing the involvement of subsidized organizations in after-school hours
Making ongoing mandatory training compulsory, especially on issues related to gender-based and sexual violence
Strengthening support for students with disabilities by training certain staff in specialized assistance roles and streamlining procedures through a single contact point with the MDPH
Launching a comprehensive renovation plan for Parisian schools to improve facilities and learning environments (building infrastructure, equipment)
Extending school and nursery hours — opening earlier and closing later — to better support families balancing work and home life
Establishing "parenting centers" by expanding the role of PMI as a hub for guidance and information for families beyond early childhood
Prioritizing social housing for nursery staff to ensure adequate staffing and housing options

(Source: Official Candidate Website, Le Parisien 1, and Le Parisien 2)

Emmanuel Grégoire (Center-left coalition: PS – Socialist Party, Communist Party, Greens, Place Publique, L’Après)

Support strong public services "from early childhood to school" (Source: official candidate site)
Introduce free "1000 Days Houses" across Paris to support families from pregnancy through a child's second birthday (Source: official candidate site)
Transform urban spaces to be more child-friendly, with the creation of 1,000 pedestrian zones "perfect for children to learn, play, and live" (Source: official candidate site)
Establish a dedicated role for Deputy Mayor in charge of parenting and family issues (Source: official candidate site)
Expand opening hours for libraries and media centers (Source: official candidate site)
Launch a "1 Month, 1 Discovery" program to give children aged 4 to 11 the chance to participate in an artistic or cultural activity each month (Source: official candidate site)
Revamp schools and neighborhoods as part of a broader ecological and social plan (Source: official candidate site)
Fight against school closures imposed by the State (Source: official candidate site)
Enhance social diversity in public schools and middle schools by making institutions more attractive and adjusting zoning policies (Source: official candidate site)
Adjust financial support to private schools based on criteria of social and academic diversity to reduce segregation (Source: official candidate site)
Demand a proper official status for AESH (Accompagnants des Élèves en Situation de Handicap) from the State and ensure their ongoing involvement in after-school programs for a truly inclusive school system (Source: official candidate site)
Open 50 new specialized units for children with disabilities and expand mixed-ability structures (Source: official candidate site)
Guarantee at least one educational trip for every child’s school experience in Paris (Source: official candidate site)
Create a "pericollège" program, including during school holidays (Source: official candidate site)
Launch a citizen convention focused on school hours, after-school care, and children’s rights (Source: official candidate site)
Make the animation sector fully professional, ending temporary contracts and moving to 100% continuous employment throughout the day (Source: official candidate site)
Freeze school canteen prices to protect families’ purchasing power (Source: Le Parisien)
Guarantee 100% organic menus in school cafeterias by the end of the term (Source: Le Parisien)
Provide balanced, free snacks to all students (Source: Le Parisien)
Extend free school supplies to more grades beyond first year (Source: Le Parisien)
Ensure every preschool and primary school student receives a comprehensive health check-up (Source: Le Parisien)

Sarah Knafo (Reconquête)

Immediate creation of 7,000 additional nursery places by reopening existing facilities.
Salary increase of 10% at hiring for staff in municipal nurseries.
Centralized management of nursery staff to optimize replacements and cover absences.
Purchasing spots in private nurseries that meet quality standards set by the City.
Implementation of a single digital platform to allocate nursery placements, with transparent public criteria.
Enhanced monitoring of extracurricular activity staff, including background checks and periodic verifications.
Recruitment of parents and grandparents as part-time activity supervisors during extracurricular activities.
Abolition of the "pastillage" rule imposed on private schools.
Equal treatment for public and private institutions regarding access to municipal sports facilities.
Authorization for expanding or establishing private schools, including through the sale of municipal premises.
Opposition to social mix criteria embedded in the Affelnet algorithm for high school placement.
Requirement for school cafeterias to serve products sourced from French agriculture.
Strengthening oversight and transparency in school and extracurricular management.

(Source: Official Candidate's Website)

Thierry Mariani (National Rally - UDR)

Implement mandatory school uniforms starting from elementary school
Reintroduce four-day school weeks
Increase supervision and support for students facing difficulties
Launch a comprehensive plan to protect early childhood and enforce a zero-tolerance policy on abuse

Marielle Saulnier (Working People's Front)

As of February 16, 2026, there have been no concrete proposals or measures explicitly focusing on education announced by the candidate on their official website or in the media.

Regarding education for the 2026 municipal elections in Paris, candidates' programs remain only partially outlined. Some frontrunners, such as Sophia Chikirou, have begun specifying policies directly related to education, while others have yet to publicly release detailed proposals on the subject.

This dossier will be updated gradually as candidates reveal more details about their education proposals. To deepen your understanding, you can also explore the comprehensive thematic summary of each candidate's positions on other municipal issues such as housing, mobility, environment, and more.

To help clarify the issues that matter most to you regarding the management of Paris, we've put together a thematic overview. You can find all these topics summarized below!

2026 Paris Municipal Elections: Candidate Program Proposals by Theme
The municipal elections are just around the corner, and you're eager to learn more about the candidates’ platforms for the Paris city hall? We've got you covered. Explore their proposals by theme—security, housing, environment, education, culture—and see where each candidate stands! [Read more]