Agreement on the payment of school contributions for students at upper secondary level schools (Regional School Agreement) (Regionales Schulabkommen) - Purpose

1. The agreement aims to regulate access to schools outside of the canton, the payment of school contributions by the canton of residence, as well as the equal treatment of trainees from agreement cantons.

2. The distribution of school contributions between the canton of residence, the municipality of residence, and third parties is governed by the law of the canton of residence.

1. The agreement applies to the access and attendance of

a) academic high schools, commercial middle schools, and diploma middle schools;

b) educational programs for obtaining a vocational baccalaureate after an apprenticeship;

c) secondary level II schools for teacher education.

2. It can be applied to public schools as well as those with private legal sponsorship.

1. The host canton designates the schools that it intends to subject to the agreement.

2. The residence canton designates the schools for which it intends to apply the agreement.

1. Special Agreements Between Cantons, Particularly Regarding the Attendance of Schools in Border Regions, Shall Remain Reserved.

1. Trainees from contracting cantons are equivalent to those residing in the canton of location, particularly with respect to admission requirements, promotion, and graduation.

1. Schools may charge tuition fees and other charges to trainees.

2. These fees are the same for trainees from the local canton and those from agreement cantons.

1. The agreement distinguishes between schools with an obligation to admit trainees residing in the canton of agreement and those without such an obligation.

1. For trainees in schools with a mandatory admission requirement, the canton of residence provides an educational grant.

2. The amount of educational grants for the 2001/2002 school year is determined according to Appendix 2 of this agreement.

1. For schools without an obligation to admit students, the amount of the school fee is half of the rates according to Article 8 of this agreement.

1. The amount of the school fees shall be adjusted for the first time at the beginning of the 2002/2003 school year. Thereafter, the rates shall apply for a duration of two school years each.

1. The canton of location is defined as the canton in which the school is based.

1. The liable canton for payment is the canton of residence of the trainee.

1. The host canton decides on the admission of trainees from agreement cantons that have not recognized a school offering as eligible for contribution, as well as from cantons that have not acceded to this agreement. It determines the amount of school contributions, tuition, and fees for these individuals.

2. School contributions, tuition, and fees, subject to Article 4 of this agreement, must not be lower for agreement cantons that have not recognized a school offering as eligible for contribution and for cantons that have not acceded to this agreement, than those for trainees from cantons that have acceded to this agreement and have recognized the corresponding school offering as eligible for contribution.

1. Each contracting canton designates a coordination office for the execution of the agreement. The regional secretariat of the EDK-Ost establishes a secretariat for the conference of the heads of coordination offices.

1. The school subject to the agreement submits a list of students to the coordination office of the responsible canton at the beginning of the school year or the beginning of a semester.

2. Objections to the list must be raised with the school within 30 days.

1. The school shall submit an invoice to the coordination office of the canton responsible for payment by no later than the end of the semester or the end of the school year. This invoice must be settled within 30 days.

2. Along with the invoice, the numbers of trainees determined on the key dates of November 15 and May 15 must be disclosed.

1. Amendments to the agreement require the consent of all the contracting cantons.

2. Amendments to the annexes of the agreement require the consent of the affected cantons.

3. Unilateral amendments by a canton in the annexes of the agreement require written notification. Deletions in Annex 1 and increases in school contributions in Annex 2 take effect after a period of two years, always at the beginning of the school year.

1. With the consent of the contracting cantons, additional cantons may join the agreement.

1. The agreement may be terminated at the end of a school year, subject to a three-year notice period.

2. The termination must be submitted in writing to the President of the EDK-Ost, with notification to the member cantons of the agreement.

1. Revision and Termination Do Not Nullify Admission Decisions for Apprentices. The canton of residence remains obligated to provide the educational contribution until the formal completion of the commenced training.

1. The agreement shall enter into force at the beginning of the 2001/2002 school year, provided that five cantons have acceded to it.

1. Upon acceding to this agreement, the "Agreement on Educational Contributions from Secondary Level II and Tertiary Level Schools" dated June 9, 1994, is considered terminated with respect to all other cantons.

2. Once all cantons participating in the agreement have acceded, the "Agreement on Educational Contributions from Secondary Level II and Tertiary Level Schools" dated June 9, 1994, is considered repealed.