The main difference between state schools and private schools concerns their management and financing.
State schools are fully funded and managed by the state, providing free education and a national curriculum established by the Ministry of Education. This approach ensures uniform education throughout the country, allowing all students to follow the same educational guidelines.
Conversely, private schools, despite being private, are recognized by the state and must comply with regulatory requirements. Although they have the freedom to vary their curricula and choose specific educational models, these schools are required to maintain standards equivalent to those of state schools.
Students in private schools must pay tuition, as they do not receive state funding, but the introduction of the School Voucher by many Italian regions has made attendance at these institutions more accessible by covering part of the costs.
In recent years, private schools have attracted growing attention in the Italian educational landscape, thanks to their scholastic autonomy, which allows them to operate flexibly and individually. This autonomy allows schools to define their own curriculum, choosing the subjects and programs to offer based on the specific needs of their students.
For example, at our private schools, such as the Holden Middle School and the Pascal High Schools, languages such as Chinese and English have been introduced, using the Cambridge and Confucius Curriculums. Furthermore, starting this year, robotics has been integrated into the mathematical sciences curriculum, engaging students in an innovative and growing area.
Private schools can also organize their school schedule to meet the needs of the school community. Private schools have the freedom to manage their timetable, extracurricular activities, and assessment methods, thus responding promptly to the needs of students and families.
Another advantage of private schools is the ability to adopt innovative teaching methodologies. Approaches such as cooperative learning, problem-based learning, and outdoor education can be easily integrated into the curriculum, facilitating more active and stimulating student engagement. Our schools have long adopted a method inspired by the Finnish model, which promotes student autonomy, outdoor experiences, and an experiential teaching approach.
School autonomy also allows private schools to select and train their own teaching staff, while adhering to the competitive levels established by the Ministry. This allows them to enhance teachers’ skills and create motivated educational teams ready to experiment with new teaching practices.
Regarding financial resource management, private schools can raise funds through enrollment, donations, and fundraising activities. This allows them to invest in projects and resources that directly meet the needs of their students. Furthermore, partnerships with local authorities and associations to implement special education projects further enrich the curriculum.
Our high schools, Holden Middle School, and Daisy Elementary School collaborate annually with local associations on initiatives such as “An Embrace to Dementia,” reading workshops for children in the city’s daycare centers, and projects to maintain common goods.
Finally, another essential function of private schools is providing academic and career guidance. Through personalized support, these schools can help students make informed decisions about their future, offering counseling and internship opportunities that prepare them for the world of work.
In addition to private schools, there are also “non-private schools,” such as Daisy Elementary School.
Recognition of “non-private school” status requires registration in the regional list of non-private schools. To maintain registration in the regional list of non-private schools, the school must expressly declare to the Regional School Office,
by March 31 of each three-year period following initial registration, its desire to remain
registered in the aforementioned list as well as its continued possession of the requirements set by the Mim.
Being a non-private elementary school certified by the Ministry of Education offers numerous advantages that contribute to creating a stimulating and personalized educational environment, as in the case of Daisy Elementary School. First and foremost, these schools enjoy educational autonomy, allowing them to freely define their curricula and teaching methods, thus adapting their curriculum to the diverse needs of students and their families. This flexible approach also allows them to respond quickly to changes in the educational landscape, without having to rigidly follow state guidelines.
Private schools, like Daisy Elementary School, can integrate innovative approaches to teaching and manage their school activities with fewer bureaucratic constraints, using modern technologies and cutting-edge methodologies. This learning environment, generally smaller in size, fosters closer, more familiar relationships between teachers, students, and parents, creating a strong sense of community.
Being recognized by the Ministry of Education provides an additional level of credibility, reassuring families of the quality of the education they receive and facilitating access to external funding and resources. Thanks to this accreditation, institutions like our Daisy Elementary School can develop specific projects, focusing on areas such as environmental education, foreign languages, or the arts, attracting families with specific educational interests.
Although there are significant differences between state and private schools in terms of management and funding, both can offer quality education. Thanks to their autonomy, private schools are better able to respond to their students’ needs, creating meaningful and personalized opportunities for their development and learning.
