Municipal Elections 2026 in Paris: What Are the Candidates’ Positions on Education, and Who Supports Which Vision?

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 manages the public kindergartens and primary schools and oversees building maintenance;
• She organizes and funds school meal programs and after-school care;
• She implements extracurricular educational and sports activities, often coordinating with local districts;
• She can also provide financial support for additional educational projects such as associations, workshops, and more.

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.

• To be read
• 2026 Paris Municipal Elections: Candidate Program Proposals by Theme
• Municipal Elections 2026 in Paris: Your FAQs Answered
• This Week's Best Deals in Paris and Île-de-France, March 16–22, 2026

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:

• Implementing background checks for activity leaders and after-school staff, along with establishing pairs for supervision (Sources: Le Parisien, and Citoyens.com)
• Systematically installing video surveillance cameras outside schools and colleges (Source: Valeurs Actuelles)
• Equipping schools and colleges with emergency alert buttons connected directly to police stations (Source: Valeurs Actuelles)
• Maintaining a minimum level of reception in case of strikes (Source: Citoyens.com)
• Shifting the school start time to 9 a.m. in middle schools to better respect teenagers’ sleep patterns (Source: Le Parisien)
• Revamping the extracurricular programs with trained and qualified staff (Sources: France24)
  • Implementing surprise inspections of extracurricular staff.
  • Investing 8 million euros to enhance staff training.
  • Providing permanent positions and bonuses to activity leaders.
• Extending after-school hours until 7 p.m. (Source: France24)
• Organizing more outdoor classes and summer camps for students (Source: France24)
• Launching a major renovation plan for public schools (Source: France24)
• Introducing adolescent well-being innovations, such as collecting smartphones at the start of the school day (Source: Le Parisien)
• Unannounced audits and regular checks of extracurricular staff (Source: Le Singulier)
• Extending after-school hours until 7 p.m. (Source: Le Singulier)

Here are the candidate's detailed proposals:

• Make school meals free for families with the lowest social quotients and increase the progression of tariff scales. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Ensure inclusive support for all children with disabilities, through the creation of specialized inclusion animators and comprehensive training for all educational staff. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Guarantee the consistent presence of at least one ATSEM per preschool class and train staff in hygiene practices during extracurricular hours. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Strengthen school health programs by offering annual medical check-ups for every student. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Transform after-school 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 staff and converting precarious animators into tenured or contracted employees. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Develop a professional pathway for after-school personnel, with enhanced training programs and career advancement from Level C to Level A. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Expand free tutoring services and boost educational, cultural, and sports workshops in collaboration with local associations. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Modernize school and sports facilities by improving accessibility and local availability. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Adapt schools to health and climate challenges by renovating sanitary facilities, improving ventilation, and reimagining school yards. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Strengthen partnerships with associations and social centers through dedicated governance and multi-year funding. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Promote the use of the public education system by limiting municipal support for private schools to legal requirements and increasing transparency of funding. (Source: Official candidate site)
• Implement a permanent municipal program to combat racism through education in after-school programs, community 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)
• Establish a municipal investigation commission to examine issues within Paris's after-school system, including dysfunctions, responsibilities, and supervision conditions, especially following reports of violence. (Source: Le Parisien)
• Make the Paris municipal education system a central pillar of city governance, emphasizing a strengthened municipal role alongside national education, particularly through after-school programs and local educational policies. (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:

• Implementation of a four-day school week
• Introduction of supervised study sessions after school
• Hiring exclusively qualified, trained, and certified activity leaders
• Rigorous screening of all applicants: background checks, verification against sex offender registries (FIJAIVS), and thorough environmental and personal background investigations
• Reduced involvement of subsidized associations during extracurricular hours
• Mandatory ongoing training, especially on issues related to gender-based and sexual violence
• Enhancing support for students with disabilities, including training some activity leaders in AESH roles and streamlining procedures via a single point of contact with the MDPH
• Launching a comprehensive renovation plan for Parisian schools to improve facilities and learning environments (buildings, equipment)
• Extending school and nursery hours, opening earlier and closing later, to better balance family and work life
• Creating "parenting centers," expanding the role of PMI as a resource for family support and information beyond early childhood
• Prioritizing social housing for nursery staff members

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

• Defending strong public services "from early childhood through school" (Source: official candidate's website)
• Establishing free "Mothers and Babies Centers" across Paris to support families from pregnancy up to their child's second year (Source: official candidate's website)
• Transforming urban spaces for children by creating 1,000 pedestrian-friendly streets "where kids can learn, play, and live comfortably" (Source: official candidate's website)
• Creating a dedicated role for Deputy Mayor for Parenting and Families (Source: official candidate's website)
• Expanding library and media center hours to better serve residents (Source: official candidate's website)
• Launching a "One Month, One Discovery" program inviting children aged 4 to 11 to participate in a new artistic or cultural activity every month (Source: official candidate's website)
• Revamping schools and neighborhoods as part of a broader ecological and social initiative (Source: official candidate's website)
• Fighting against school closures mandated by the state (Source: official candidate's website)
• Enhancing school diversity by improving the attractiveness of public schools and refining zoning policies (Source: official candidate's website)
• Adjusting funding allocations to private schools based on social and academic diversity criteria to combat segregation (Source: official candidate's website)
• Advocating for the government to formalize a true status for Education Assistants and ensuring their support continues seamlessly into after-school programs for a truly inclusive education system (Source: official candidate's website)
• Opening 50 new specialized units for children with disabilities and expanding inclusive structures (Source: official candidate's website)
• Ensuring every child in Paris experiences at least one educational trip during their schooling (Source: official candidate's website)
• Introducing a "Peri-School" program, including during school holidays (Source: official candidate's website)
• Launching a citizens' convention on school hours, extracurricular activities, and children's rights (Source: official candidate's website)
• Professionalizing the animation sector by ending temporary contracts and moving toward 100% continuous employment throughout the day (Source: official candidate's website)
• Freezing school canteen prices to protect families' purchasing power (Source: Le Parisien)
• Guaranteeing 100% organic menus in school cafeterias by the end of the term (Source: Le Parisien)
• Providing balanced, free snacks to all students (Source: Le Parisien)
• Expanding free school supplies beyond first grade to more levels (Source: Le Parisien)
• Guaranteeing comprehensive health check-ups for every preschool and primary school child (Source: Le Parisien)

Sarah Knafo (Reconquête)

• Immediate creation of 7,000 additional daycare spots by reopening existing places.
• Salary increase of 10% at hiring for staff at municipal nurseries.
• Centralized management of daycare staff to improve substitutions and coverages during absences.
• Purchasing spots in private childcare centers that meet quality standards set by the city.
• Implementation of a unified digital application for daycare placement, with transparent and publicly accessible criteria.
• Enhanced monitoring of extracurricular workers, including background checks and regular verifications.
• Recruitment of parents and grandparents as casual staff for after-school activities.
• Abolition of the "paste-up" rule imposed on private schools.
• Equal access to municipal sports facilities for both public and private schools.
• Permitting the expansion or establishment of private schools, including through the sale of municipal premises.
• Opposition to the social mixing criteria included in the Affelnet algorithm for high school placements.
• Mandating the use of French-sourced agricultural products in school cafeterias.
• Strengthening oversight and transparency in school and extracurricular supervision.

(Source: Official Candidate's Website)

Thierry Mariani (National Rally - UDR)

• Implement mandatory school uniforms starting from elementary school
• Reinstate the four-day school week
• Strengthen supervision and support services to assist struggling students
• Initiate a comprehensive childhood protection plan and enforce zero tolerance for abuse

Marielle Saulnier (Working People's Front)

• Make education free and accessible to all children, including those with disabilities.
• Ensure that staff receive fair wages.
• Use public funds exclusively for public schools.
• Do not subsidize private educational institutions.
• Guarantee equal education for everyone.
• Remove barriers to educational access, especially for children from underprivileged backgrounds.
• Ensure all levels of education are open to everyone.
• Provide students with proper material conditions for studying.
• Guarantee housing for students.
• Provide students with the means to cover their living expenses.
• Ensure society as a whole takes responsibility for these needs through the wealth generated by workers.

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]

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