The Dutch Ministry of Education’s law on ‘Strengthening the position of parents and pupils in tailored education’ made the right of all primary and secondary education learners to be heard concerning their support needs in education legally binding. The legislation aims to ensure that schools discuss learners’ development and (educational) support needs with them. Giving input is not mandatory, but when given, schools must consider learners’ input to determine or adjust the support. Schools must report back to the learners how their input influenced the support and include it in the development perspective plan.

As of 1 January 2025, all regional school alliances must have a parent and youth support centre available that informs parents and learners about tailored education and listens to parents and learners. The support centres also monitor developments in tailored education, based on the services they provide to parents and learners, and inform their respective regional school alliance. Based on this information, the alliance improves its Tailored Education policy. 

The Ministry drafted the law in close co-operation with education and children’s rights organisations, the Ombudsman for Children, schools, school boards, teachers, and learner and parent interest groups. Beyond law-making, the Ministry is facilitating the implementation of the law, such as by creating toolkits on how to practise hearing rights for children which can be adapted to various educational contexts, and by providing support to regional school alliances in developing support centres.

Read more in the Voices into Action toolkit.