Extremadura modifies school canteen and transport grants to adapt them

The Governing Council of the Junta de Extremadura has approved Decree 169/2026, of September 29, which modifies the regulatory bases for subsidies intended for individualized transport and/or school canteen aid for students enrolled in centers supported by public funds. The regulation is published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura number 192, of October 5, 2026, within section I of General Provisions, with the official reference 2026040213. The text enters into force the day following its publication.

The origin of the reform

The decree modifies Decree 127/2024, of October 8, published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura number 208, of October 24, which established the regulatory bases and approved the first call for the 2024/2025 academic year. According to the preamble, the experience accumulated in the management of these aids has highlighted the need to improve their quality and effectiveness.

The stated objective of these subsidies is to make the principle of equal opportunities in Education effective, through a compensatory measure for students who, due to the rural and scattered nature of the Extremaduran population, cannot use the services contracted globally by the Autonomous Community.

What changes in schooling

The reform replaces the assigned center with the schooling zone as the territorial reference area for accessing the aids. The main changes are:

• The reference to the experimental program Aula Dos is removed and replaced by the 1-2 year old classrooms.
• References to Compulsory Education are removed from the canteen aids, as they are not part of the target group.
• It is required to be enrolled in a center supported by public funds included in the corresponding schooling zone; if this comprises several centers, it is sufficient to be enrolled in any of them.
• For school transport aid, the limitation to the family home is maintained.
• Students whose center is in the same urban area as their daily residence are excluded, even if the distance exceeds 3 kilometers, unless referred by the Schooling Commission.

Documentation and compatibility

The decree modifies sections 6, 8, and 10 of article 7 and introduces a new section 8.bis. Among the documentary requirements are:

• Collective Census Certificate issued by the City Council, with a maximum period of one month prior to the closing date for applications.
• Certificate of residence with the family address during the school year and the distance in kilometers between urban centers.
• Certificate of ownership of the student’s bank account, which must be active in the Third Party System of the Junta de Extremadura.
• For dining hall grants, if the work address is chosen, certification from the company stating the address of the workplace and the employment relationship, or registration in the Tax on Economic Activities if self-employed.

Article 16.1 is also updated: daily transport and dining hall grants are compatible when the student makes 10 weekly trips between different towns and attends in the afternoon session, and they are incompatible if this figure is exceeded.

Scope and validity

The sole transitional provision establishes that the modifications will only apply to the granting procedures initiated after the regulation comes into force. The decree was signed in Mérida on September 29, 2026, by the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Sandra Victoria Valencia Ramos, and by the President of the Junta de Extremadura, María Guardiola Martín.

The reform directly affects Extremaduran families with children in centers supported by public funds who apply for these grants, as it reorganizes the territorial access criteria and strengthens the documentary accreditation requirements. By linking the grants to the schooling zone, the Junta seeks an objective and homogeneous criterion, with greater legal certainty and a more efficient management of public resources.

Source: Official Gazette of Extremadura, number 192, of October 5, 2026, section I General Provisions (official reference: 2026040213).