Starting chances program: Gustav-Leutelt-School in Kaufbeuren benefits!

Starting chances program: Gustav-Leutelt-School in Kaufbeuren benefits!

An important step towards equal opportunities in education was announced today in Kaufbeuren-Neubablonz. The Gustav-Leutelt primary and middle school will be part of the starting chances program from the coming school year, which was launched by the Federal Ministry of Research and the Bavarian State Government. The aim of this program is that every child has the opportunity to develop their full potential regardless of their origin and social environment. 100 schools in Bavaria are currently benefiting from these funding measures. In the school year 2025/26 there are 480 other schools nationwide, which expands the program to around 4,000 schools nationwide.

Member of the Landtag Peter Wachler (CSU) is enthusiastic about strengthening the educational institution through this initiative. "The program offers modern infrastructure, digital equipment and more educational staff. Educational success should not depend on the parents' wallet," said Wachler. The feedback from existing model schools is consistently positive. On average, each funded school receives more than two million euros over the program time to meet the special needs of your student body.

Start chances program in detail

The starting chances program is considered the largest educational program in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. As part of this initiative, an investment of around 20 billion euros from the federal and state governments will be expected in the next ten years. The aim is to decouple the educational success more from the social background and to promote real equality of opportunities for all students. Around one million students will benefit directly from the improvements that are initiated by this comprehensive program.

The program start fell on the school year 2024/25 and stipulates that around 4,000 starting chances should exist in Germany by the 2026/27 school year. Investments are being made in three essential areas: in modern, air conditioning-right learning environments, in so-called opportunities budgets for individual solutions in school and teaching development as well as in the strengthening of multi-professional teams by additional staff. In addition, the structures in class and in the college are professionalized and further developed.

challenges and goals of equal opportunities

The challenges in the education system should not be underestimated. Despite all progress, there are still considerable differences in participation in education, as current statistics show. For example, in some districts, only 8% of children from socially disadvantaged families visit a high school, while in other districts of up to 66%. The aim of the starting chances program is to reduce these discrepancies and to halve the number of students who fail the minimum standards in mathematics and German until the end of the program time.

In addition, the program focuses on the development of basic skills such as reading, writing and calculating. Personality development and the acquisition of future skills are also in the foreground. Scientific accompanying research and evaluations are intended to ensure that the measures have the desired effect and that all students in Germany receive fair opportunities for good education.

Gustav-Leutelt primary and middle school, like many other schools in the room, is an example of how targeted initiatives can improve access to education. Integration into the starting chance program is a step in the right direction to achieve long-term changes in the education system and to reduce social inequality. Here everyone involved can hope for a positive development that will open up new perspectives for the pupils.

We are Kaufbeuren not only promoted learning at schools, but also a more comprehensive social impact. Further information on the goals and structures of the program can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research , where the role of educational justice in Germany is also illuminated, as in the context of regional education .