Emilia-Romagna opens primary schools early for 8,000 children

On August 31, 2026, primary schools in Emilia-Romagna opened two weeks early for approximately 8,000 children as part of 'Settembre insieme', a regional pilot project. The initiative, funded with €3 million, operates in about 150 school sites across 42 municipalities. It offers activities such as fencing, circus workshops, theater, games, homework help, and socializing. The project is free and voluntary, aimed at helping families during the long summer break. In Bologna, 1,700 children enrolled across 22 institutes. Regional and local officials, including President Michele de Pascale and Mayor Matteo Lepore, attended the opening. Parents praised the initiative as invaluable, especially for families without local support networks. The service is managed by the social cooperative Quadrifoglio, emphasizing continuity of educational staff. The region plans to monitor the pilot and aims to make it structural and extend it to all municipalities next year.