In Season 1, Episode 5 of the iconic series ‘The Sopranos’, Tony takes his daughter Meadow on an epic road trip to check out a few colleges, and it’s best to follow suit – leave out only the bit when you gargle the rat on the Witness Protection Program .
Tony and Meadow give themselves a whole weekend for their college show, but is that even enough. With such a large selection to choose from, it may be best to go on two or three road or train journeys if you want to make an informed decision.
After all, while the specialization course may sound amazing, visiting the school itself can change your mind or even location. This is potentially one of the most crucial moments in your child’s life – a time to flourish for many – and no choice could be more important.
In some cases, it may be possible to attend a 24-hour trial course to experience after-school life before committing to a longer stay. While some post-secondary schools offer shorter courses, such as Easter and summer camps or confirmation courses.
Catering to details
Some post-secondary schools specialize in helping students catch up – especially late developers or other children who have not done so well within the established school system.
Children can regain their confidence in themselves in a protective and social environment and be motivated to continue their education.
Others cater to those with learning disabilities, with 18 created for students with special needs and 20 for dyslexic students.
And there are lots of different language options. Some schools offer all of their instruction in English, and others offer bilingual or cultural programs designed in a wide variety of languages, including Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Romanian, and Hungarian.
Liabilities to the state
Remember that even though continuing education is private and self-governing, they receive significant government grants (see next page).
The school principals are responsible for the operation of the school, but must comply with the rules laid down by the Ministry of Education in order to maintain their subsidy.
Exceptions may, however, be granted. For example, after-school centers may choose not to hold exams in history and religious education if this does not fit into their educational philosophy.
If they do, they will have to replace other topics from the humanist canon. Students from an exam-free school must take an entrance exam if they want to continue in a high school (high school / high school).
The full downsizing
In addition to providing useful information about continuation schools in general, efterskole.dk/en provides a comprehensive overview of all the individual continuation schools, where special requirements are listed, the offered topics and availability of places per. School.
There are links to the schools’ websites, and it certainly pays to use these to get a better picture of what is offered at the individual institutions.
There is also a waiting list that potential students can sign up for if the chosen school is full.
Rules for state aid
Parents are expected to pay between 33 and 50 percent of the cost, while the state pays the rest.
These fees vary from school to school and cover tuition, full board and school expenses and all local excursions including study trips. They may also include certain garments that students need.
The state subsidy is based on the child’s household income – namely the amount earned over a period of two tax years 20 months before school starts.
For example, if a student wants to start continuing education in the school year 2021/2022, the support given is based on earnings in 2019 and 2020.
Who is included
If only one of the parents lived in the household but with a new partner, both incomes will form the basis of the calculation. Income earned by other home children or other family members living in the house is not counted.
The income base is also reduced for every child under the age of 18 who has a population registration address in the house, except for the child who wants to attend after-school. This also applies to children of the new partner.
If the child’s parents are divorced or not married and have different registration addresses when the course starts, the income basis for the person with whom the child lives or has recently lived is used together with that for any new live partner.
If a parent or partner dies while the student is receiving after-school support, or a separation or divorce takes place, the school reports this to the authorities and a new calculation is made of the amount of support paid.
Non-Danish citizens
The state also extends financial support to non-Danish citizens who participate in an after-school course, as long as it lasts at least two weeks and if the age and residence criteria that apply to Danish citizens are met.
There are also three additional criteria (see fact box), but with regard to points 2 and 3, keep in mind that if the tax authorities are unable to determine the parents’ income basis, the support is extended based on an income income basis determined in consultation with the school.
The state will also provide basic support to foreign students if one of the parents has previously had Danish citizenship.
In cases where foreign students fall outside the above rules, the state does not provide individual support, but ‘taximeter money’ (a block grant based on the number of students) will be paid to the school as long as the number of foreign students at the school is less than half of the total amount.
Extra financial help
It is also possible to apply for additional financial support in addition to the state subsidy. Each year, schools receive an amount from the state earmarked to help parents who are having difficulty paying school fees.
This money must be applied for from the individual school that the child attends. It is then up to the school to decide how much and to whom additional financial assistance can be provided to reduce the fees.
The SU scholarship (Statens Uddannelsesstøtte) is not available to students who attend after-school.