Education Unions Fight Position Cuts Before September School Year Starts

The new French school year begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, after summer vacations that started July 4, while the 2026 government budget has removed more than 3,000 teacher positions. Educational staff unions including assistants d’éducation (AED) and accompagnantes d’élèves en situation de handicap (AESH) have organized strikes in 2026 to protest these job cuts and related budget issues.

Why the Timing Matters Now

Official results for the 2026 baccalauréat were announced on July 7, 2026, showing a definitive success rate of 91.4% across all tracks. The general track reached 95.9% and the professional track rose to 84.3%. These results arrive just weeks before families and staff prepare for the return to classes, coinciding with new education-related changes that took effect in July 2026.

Budget Reductions and Union Response

The adopted 2026 budget includes the removal of more than 3,000 teacher positions for the upcoming school year. Educational staff unions have responded with strikes to protest the job cuts and broader budget issues. The evolution of the DPE (Diplôme Professionnel d’Éducateur) forms part of the July 2026 updates alongside the introduction of extra paid birth leave for parents starting July 1.

Additional July 2026 Updates

Parents gain one to two months of paid birth leave under the new measures. The period also sees the launch of the Climate Futures Savings Plan for those under 21 to support ecological transition. Strikes in academies such as Clermont-Ferrand and Rennes reflect ongoing mobilizations tied to the position reductions.

The 2026 brevet saw a historic drop in pass rates to 81.6%, a 3.9-point decrease from the previous year. Families and staff now focus on preparations for the September 1 return amid these adjustments to staffing and programs.