Organisation at local level
The municipalities (kommun) have great autonomy to administer the education system within the legislative framework set up by the government. The municipal council is the highest decision making body in the municipality. In the municipalities school responsibility has been delegated to a board.
The municipalities are bound by law to provide to their in habitants a number of basic services for which they receive state subsidies. In addition, they have the right to levy income taxes and in some cases also to charge fees to finance their activities. State grants constitute around one sixth of the municipalities' income. Municipalities are the principal organisers of:
- Early childhood education and care
- Compulsory school (grundskolan)
- Compulsory school for pupils with intellectual disabilities (anpassad grundskola)
- Upper secondary school (gymnasieskolan).
- Municipal adult education (kommunal vuxenutbildning)
- Municipal adult education for adults with intellectual disabilities (komvux som anpassad utbildning)
- Swedish tuition for immigrants (svenskundervisning för invandrare, sfi)
The municipality is also the employer of school personnel and hence responsible for their professional development.
Each municipal council appoints one or more committees responsible for ensuring that educational activities are provided in accordance with the law and state regulations and guidelines and that the best possible conditions for education are created. The committee or committees responsible for schools are obliged to ensure that:
- Goals of the curricula are achieved and general regulations are followed
- Municipal funds are allocated for school activities
- Qualified teaching and non-teaching staff is recruited and that staff members are offered competence development, CPD
- The provision of appropriate facilities for schools
In practice, it is the responsibility of the municipalities to ensure that schools throughout the country maintain good standards. The municipalities should follow-up and evaluate education on a regular basis, as well as take part in national evaluations. According to the Ordinance on quality reporting each school must monitor and evaluate its own activities.
Organisation at institutional level
Regarding the role and responsibilities of the preschool head and school head see chapter 10.1.