Education has launched the election process to renew school councils for the 2026-2027 academic year

The Department of Education of the Basque Government has launched the election process for school councils for the 2026-2027 academic year in public educational centers outside of universities. The Order of October 2, 2026, signed by the Minister of Education María Begoña Pedrosa Lobato, declares the election period open; the order was published on October 9, 2026, in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country, issue 194, with official reference 2026/4191. Elections will take place from November 5 to 23, and the new council for each center must be constituted before December 16.

Half-renewal rule

The basis of the Order is Decree 258/1996, of November 12, as amended by Decree 11/2007, of January 30. This regulation establishes that school councils must be renewed every two years and by halves, and specifies the procedure.

The last elections were held in the 2024-2025 academic year, and therefore, the corresponding renewal is to be carried out in the 2026-2027 academic year. It is the responsibility of the Minister of Education to declare the election period open so that the process can begin.

Calendar and constitution

• Election dates: November 5 to 23, in all centers.
• Constitution of the new council: before December 16.
• After the constitution, the council will appoint a person who will promote measures to foster real and effective equality between men and women.

Mergers and exceptions

Integrated Vocational Training Centers are excluded from the electoral process. On the other hand, in centers created through merger or integration after the last election process, all elected council members must be chosen, not just half, to ensure the full composition of the new center.

Who it affects

The measures directly affect families, teachers, administration and service staff, and management teams of public educational centers outside of universities. The school council is the main governing body of the center, where the most important decisions regarding participation, organization, and resource management are made.

Appeals and validity

• Appeal for reconsideration: before the Minister of Education, within a period of one month, counting from the day following publication.
• Contentious-administrative appeal: in the Administrative Litigation Chamber of the High Court of Justice of the Basque Autonomous Community, within a period of two months.
• The Order will take effect on the day following its publication.

Concerted centers also called

On the same day, in the same issue 194, the order with reference 2026/4190 also opens the election period for school councils of private concerted centers, based on Decree 7/1997 and Decree 10/2007. The calendar is the same: elections from November 5 to 23 and the constitution of the council before December 16.

Impact and next steps

This election process will close a two-academic-year cycle and will renew the representation of families, teachers, and staff in all public schools. Each school must organize its own calendar and procedure within the deadlines established by the regulations, and the new councils will assume their duties from December onwards.

Fuente: Boletín Oficial del País Vasco, n.º 194, 9 de octubre de 2026, Otras Disposiciones (official reference: 2026/4191).