Changes to the rules
A dated record of the legal changes that affect home education, newest first. Each entry links to the official text.
- School calendar 2026/27: secondary start moved to 21 SeptemberDespacho 10430/2026 amends the 2024 to 2028 school calendar: secondary cursos científico-humanísticos start on 21 September 2026. Key 2026/27 dates.
- Revised Aprendizagens Essenciais in public consultationEduQA consulted the public on revised learning outcomes for every subject from 27 March to 28 April 2026. The current ones still apply in 2026/27.
- Despacho Normativo 3/2026: exam rules for 2025/26 to 2027/28Rules for ModA, PEF, provas finais and exames until 2027/28. Homeschoolers are now enrolled in ModA automatically. Registration windows fixed to 2028.
- DL 105/2025 creates EduQA and abolishes DGE and IAVESince 1 October 2025, EduQA holds the curriculum documents and prepares ModA, provas finais and exames. Some old DGE pages are out of date.
- First Aprendizagens Essenciais for Cidadania e DesenvolvimentoDespacho 10637-A/2025 sets citizenship learning outcomes for all pupils from 2025/26, including homeschoolers, built on the 8 dimensions of the new ENEC.
- DL 99/2025 abolishes DGEstEDGEstE, named in DL 70/2021 for ensino individual decisions, appeals and protocolos, was abolished on 1 September 2025. What it means for families.
- DL 8/2025 amends the home education lawThe first amendment to DL 70/2021 brought in provas ModA and exempted pupils with significant curricular adaptations from final tests.