Kiel agrees: financial security for municipalities and all-day education!

Kiel agrees: financial security for municipalities and all-day education!

On July 15, 2025, the municipal associations and the Schleswig-Holstein state cabinet reached an agreement on key financing issues in Kiel. Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) led the participants in this important meeting. Topics such as reducing bureaucracy, dealing with criminal offenders and long-term strategies for reducing the costs of integration assistance were on the agenda.

A particularly important result of the agreement is the clarification of the financing of the full-day expansion. The state of Schleswig-Holstein covers 85% of the investment costs and 75% of the operating costs. This shows the state's commitment to expanding all-day educational offerings, which will play an important role in school policy in the future. Henning Görtz, chairman of the district council, expressed his satisfaction with the clarity and the associated planning security.

Financial commitments and challenges

Another central element of the agreement is the state's promise that there will be no consolidations at the expense of the municipalities in the 2026 budget. However, Ulf Kampf from the City Council pointed out disagreements, particularly regarding the reversal of cuts from the previous year, which have not yet been clarified.

The situation surrounding criminal offenders was also addressed. Organizing the returns represents a challenge that will have to be worked on intensively in the coming months.

Nationwide investment program for all-day expansion

In parallel with the regional financial negotiations, the federal government has launched a comprehensive investment program. By the end of 2027, almost three billion euros will be available to support the expansion of all-day education and care for primary school children in all 16 federal states. Applications for funding can now be submitted, which is seen as an important step towards creating additional full-time places.

The need for all-day offers is great: 1.8 million primary school children, or 56%, currently use such offers. The funding is also intended to improve the compatibility of family and work, particularly targeting mothers who are often forced to work part-time. A central component of this program is the new legal right to all-day education and care for children from the 1st grade onwards, which will come into force from the 2026/27 school year and will be gradually extended until 2029/30.

The financial aid can be used for new buildings, renovations, extensions, renovations and the equipping of all-day education and care offers. The basis of this initiative is an administrative agreement that was signed by the federal and state governments in spring 2023 and sets the course for the further expansion of all-day education bmfsfj.de reported.

Overall, the current developments in Schleswig-Holstein and the nationwide initiatives show how important the issues of education and finance are for politics and what steps are being taken to overcome the challenges in these areas.