What it is
Bill would require schools to say family fees are voluntary
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 15 March 2018. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Confederal de Unidos Podemos-En Comú Podem-En Marea.
Official title: Private member's Organic bill to amend Organic Law 8/1985, of July 3, regulating the Right to Education, for the active publicity of the voluntary nature of family fees in private schools under contract supported by public funds.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000210· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill would require publicly funded private schools under the concertado system to inform families, at least once at the start of each school year, that their financial contributions are voluntary.
- Complementary and extracurricular activities and school services at concertado schools would in all cases be voluntary, and education administrations would regulate them.
- The proposal cites reports by CICAE and OCU showing many families do not know these fees are voluntary, plus allegedly irregular charges in Madrid.
- If passed, the law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette, except measures with budgetary impact, which would wait until the following fiscal year.
Who it affects
- Families with children at publicly funded private schools (concertados): They must know the fees are voluntary and would receive that information each school year.
- Private concertado schools: They would have to inform families every year that contributions are voluntary.
- Education administrations: They would have to regulate complementary, extracurricular activities and school services at concertado schools.
Words worth knowing
- Centro concertado
- A private school that receives public funding through an agreement (concierto) with the education administration.
- Proposición de ley
- A bill tabled by a parliamentary group. It is not yet an approved law.
- Ley Orgánica
- An organic law, reserved for major matters such as fundamental rights, requiring a special vote in Congress.
It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries
Where it stands
How far did it get?
It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.
- Introduced15 March 2018Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted20 March 2018The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
- Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
- Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Was there a plenary vote?
We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.
What happens next
What happens now?
The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.
It has not been presented again yet.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000210
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
- Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
- We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.