The novelty had already been communicated by the Government in the press release that followed the Council of Ministers on 24 September, where it was stated: "Resources for the total or partial free of charge of textbooks have been increased and, from 2027, a fund of 20 million euros per year will be established for contributions paid directly to families with an equivalent economic situation indicator (Isee) not exceeding 40,000 euros".
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However, the allocation for the book bonus does not change, which remains at 20 million euros starting from next year. The text of Legislative Decree n. 170 of 2026, however, introduces another change regarding the contribution: it is no longer intended for the books of upper secondary school students, but can be requested for pupils in the first classes of lower secondary school and the first and third classes of upper secondary school.
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The debate on increasing book prices resurfaces every year at the start of the new school year, and this was the case last month too. "School books will increase in price by 2.3% compared to 2025, no more than usual. But it is the cost of books that families have to pay that is taking off - attacked Massimiliano Dona, president of the National Consumers Union - In fact, this year the minister Valditara has raised from 15% to 20% the possibility for schools to exceed the spending ceiling for school books for lower and lower secondary schools, an increase of a third which, compared to the amounts foreseen in the decrees it means an additional leap of 4.35% compared to last year". "But the coup de grâce for those who send their children to school comes from the ploy that the vast majority of schools have been adopting for years to avoid respecting the ceilings and thus escape any constraints, i.e. the stratagem of "recommended" books, as if they were optional and families would not then purchase them - said Dona again - And it is here that some schools are at their worst, with increases double those of compulsory books and with ceilings exceeding even more than 50%. practice, formally you are below the maximum allowable cost, but by hiding your hand you far exceed it".
"Today the legislation provides tax breaks for a series of expenses linked to school attendance, but leaves out some of the items that have the greatest impact on family budgets every year, starting from textbooks and stationery purchased independently, an expense that can reach 1,300 euros per student in Italy - Codacons also observed - A paradoxical situation, considering that we are not talking about discretionary or optional consumption, but about purchases necessary to allow students to follow lessons and fulfill compulsory education. It is not understandable that a family can deduct some school-related expenses but cannot do the same with the textbooks and educational materials that they are obliged to purchase. This is why Codacons is asking the government to intervene with the next economic budget, extending the 19% Irpef deduction to documented purchases of textbooks, notebooks, stationery, technical and artistic materials and teaching tools required by schools".
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