Experimental Education in Taiwan: Types & How to Apply

How to Distinguish the Three Types: School-Based, Public-Private Partnership, and Non-School-Based

The Three Acts on Experimental Education divide experimental education into three operating forms: ① School-based experimental education—an entire school (public or private) operates under a specific educational philosophy, and the school manages student records; ② Public schools entrusted to private operation (public-private partnership)—the school remains public but is entrusted to a private organization or individual to run it according to the experimental philosophy; ③ Non-school-based experimental education—not a school, but an individual (homeschooler), group, or institution implementing an approved plan, requiring a separate application to the competent authority. All three share curriculum and assessment that are more flexible than the regular system and are designed around an educational philosophy; they differ in the operating entity and where student records reside. Before choosing, confirm which type a given option is, so you do not mistake an "institution name" for a "school."

Official data source: National Laws & Regulations Database — Implementation Act for School-Based Experimental Education

How to Apply for Non-School-Based (Homeschooling): From Proposal to Review Committee

For individual experimental education (commonly called homeschooling), a parent submits an "Experimental Education Plan" to the education authority of the city/county where the student's household is registered. The plan usually includes the educational philosophy, curriculum planning, and assessment methods. After submission, the local experimental education review committee reviews it, and implementation may begin only after approval. Group and institutional experimental education have their own application and review procedures, with different thresholds and review focuses than individual homeschooling. Each city/county has fixed application periods and form formats each semester/school year; actual processes and deadlines are subject to announcements by the local education bureau—so allow ample time for preparation and review before the intended start date, rather than submitting at the last minute.

Official data source: National Laws & Regulations Database — Implementation Act for Non-School-Based Experimental Education

Costs Vary Widely: Public / Public-Private Partnership vs. Private Institutions / Homeschooling

The cost of experimental education varies mainly by operating entity: school-based and public-private partnership experimental education generally charge like public schools and are more affordable; private institutional experimental education and some private experimental schools set their own fees, which may be close to those of private or international schools; individual homeschooling mainly involves expenses for materials, courses, and assessments, which vary by family arrangement and typically do not follow the fixed tuition structure of an institution. When comparing options, ask the school/institution directly for a detailed fee schedule rather than relying only on the "experimental education" label—the label may be the same, but the actual financial burden can differ greatly.

Official data source: K-12 Education Administration, Ministry of Education

Experimental Education vs. Bilingual/International Schools: First Clarify What Problem You Want to Solve

These three are often compared, but they start from different points: the core of experimental education is "educational philosophy and curriculum flexibility" (e.g., Montessori, Waldorf, mixed-age teaching), which does not necessarily involve instruction in a foreign language; the core of bilingual and international schools is usually "the proportion of foreign-language instruction" and "whether it connects to an overseas admissions system." If a child is suited to flexible curricula and alternative educational philosophies, experimental education is an option; if the goal is immersive learning in English (or another foreign language) or future study abroad, bilingual or international schools better match that need. The three also differ in student record affiliation, curriculum systems, and advancement paths. There is no single standard answer—clarify your purpose first, then look into the actual practices of individual schools or programs.