Under French law, choosing a child's school falls within the scope of parental authority — the parents' shared responsibility to raise and educate their child. When both parents hold joint parental authority, which is the standard arrangement, enrolling or changing a child's school is treated as a "major decision" requiring mutual agreement between both parents. Neither parent can decide unilaterally.
French courts have repeatedly confirmed this principle. Where parents disagree, the family court judge resolves the dispute and may, exceptionally, authorize one parent to enroll the child alone if this serves the child's best interests.
Separately, France's administrative access authority (CADA) has confirmed that school records (enrollment files, information forms) must be shared with both parents holding parental authority, even if they are separated — reinforcing that both parents are entitled to be informed of and involved in school-related decisions.
The only exception: if a parent has had parental authority (or the educational component of it) removed or restricted by court order, that parent loses some or all rights to participate in schooling decisions.
Céline Campi