There are no alternative organisational models or structures in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the German-speaking Community.

However, there are alternative schooling structures available for compulsory school-aged learners. According to Article 23 of the Decree of 31 August 1998 on the mission of school providers and school staff, as well as on the general pedagogical and organisational provisions for mainstream and special schools, parents or legal guardians can choose between enrolling their child in a school or opting for home education.

If parents or guardians choose home education, they assume full organisational and financial responsibility for the instruction provided, as stated in Article 93.48 of the aforementioned decree. This means they are solely responsible for planning, implementing, and financing the educational activities.

Article 93.50 of the same decree stipulates that home education must enable learners to achieve the same developmental objectives for kindergarten and the same competence levels for primary and secondary education as those established in school-based education. These levels are equivalent to the competences, core competences, expected learning outcomes, and related references defined for the official education system. Therefore, the curricular frameworks and learning plans applicable to the education system in the German-speaking Community are also binding for home education.