In a significant milestone for educational freedom in Italy, representatives of the homeschooling community were welcomed at the Ministry of Education in Rome on February 27th, 2025. The meeting with Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara focused on the challenges faced by families educating their children outside the traditional school system.
Leading the discussion was Erika Di Martino, founder of the Libera Schola Foundation and one of Italy’s foremost home education advocates. A mother of five homeschooled children—her eldest now at university—Di Martino brings both personal experience and national leadership to the movement. Over 15 years, she has built a support network for homeschooling families, organizing conferences, publishing educational resources, and connecting parents through digital platforms. She also serves as a European board member for the Global Home Education Exchange, an international network promoting and connecting the global home education community.
Among the key issues discussed were the challenges families face with state schools, which often remain resistant to homeschooling. Families may feel pressured to alter their educational plans, face bureaucratic hurdles, or encounter institutional bias. These obstacles complicate what is supposed to be a legally protected educational path.
In Italy, homeschooling is legal, but children must pass yearly exams administered by state- recognized schools. Public institutions, often unfamiliar with homeschooling, may be dismissive or antagonistic toward these students. As a result, many families turn to scuole paritarie—private schools with state accreditation that are more respectful of homeschooling.
However, these come at a cost, placing a financial strain on families seeking fair treatment. Libera Schola’s proposed solution is to create its own paritaria school—a national center dedicated to organizing impartial and respectful exams for homeschooled students. This would be the first institution of its kind in Italy, designed to uphold both academic standards and the dignity of families pursuing alternative education. Minister Valditara responded to the proposal with openness and a willingness to engage further with the homeschooling community.
As Libera Schola advances its plan, the Foundation is seeking international support—particularly from the United States, where home education is more established and widely respected. Donations will help fund the creation of the exam center and support legal, administrative, and educational needs.
More than testing procedures are at stake—it is about affirming the right of families to raise and educate their children with integrity and freedom, in keeping with Italy’s tradition of independent thought.
Crediamo che un'educazione personalizzata e inclusiva sia fondamentale per il futuro.
Unisciti alla Fondazione Libera Schola ETS e insieme faremo la differenza.
Fondazione Libera Schola: Educare, Innovare, Crescere.
FONDAZIONE
LIBERA SCHOLA ETS
Sede Legale:
Piazza Gramsci 2
20154 Milano
Italia
All Rights Reserved | Fondazione Libera Schola