RTE 25% Reimbursement Calculator
An RTE reimbursement calculator estimates the amount a private unaided school may claim under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009 for students admitted under the 25% quota — using your state's notified per-child rate.
It applies the statutory "whichever is lower" rule between the state rate and your school fee. Enter your figures for an instant estimate.
Find this in your state education department's RTE notification.
Used to apply the "whichever is lower" cap.
Per child, per year, only if your state notifies a separate uniform or material subsidy.
Indicative estimate only. The actual claim depends on your state's current notified rate, child eligibility verification, and fund release. Not legal or financial advice — confirm with your state education department.
This estimates a claim — it doesn't file one
This is a planning estimator. State RTE rules and notified rates differ by state — check your own state's education department for the current figure and process. To actually manage RTE admissions, track eligible students and prepare claim data, schools use SchoolDeck admissions and fee & finance management, which keep an audit-ready record per child. Planning instalments for fee-paying students? See the Fee Instalment Calculator.
How it works
Estimate your RTE claim in four steps.
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1
Enter your state's per-child rate
Take the notified per-child cost from your state education department and enter it as monthly or annual.
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2
Enter your school's annual fee
This lets the tool apply the statutory "whichever is lower" cap between the state rate and your fee.
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3
Enter eligible students
Add how many students are admitted under the 25% quota, plus any uniform or material subsidy your state notifies.
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4
Read your estimate
See the reimbursable amount per child and the total annual claim your school may make.
How RTE 25% reimbursement is calculated
The statutory rule is precise. For each child admitted under the quota, the school is reimbursed the lower of two amounts: the per-child cost notified by the state, or the actual fee the school charges a regular student.
The formula
Per child = min(State notified rate, School's own fee) + any notified subsidy
Total claim = Per child × Number of eligible students
Worked example
Suppose your state notifies ₹2,242 per child per month — that is ₹26,904 a year. If your school's annual fee is ₹35,000, the reimbursable amount is the lower of the two, so ₹26,904 per child. For 25 eligible students, the estimated annual claim is 26,904 × 25 = ₹6,72,600, before any uniform or material subsidy.
If instead your school's fee were only ₹20,000, the cap would apply the other way: you could claim only ₹20,000 per child, not the higher state rate — because the Act reimburses your actual cost, not a profit.
| State rate (annual) | School fee | Reimbursable / child | 25 students |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹26,904 | ₹35,000 | ₹26,904 | ₹6,72,600 |
| ₹26,904 | ₹20,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹5,00,000 |
| ₹15,000 | ₹40,000 | ₹15,000 | ₹3,75,000 |
RTE Section 12(1)(c) reimbursement, explained
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 made elementary education a fundamental right for children aged 6 to 14. One of its most discussed provisions, Section 12(1)(c), requires every non-minority private unaided school to reserve at least 25% of its entry-level seats for children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in the neighbourhood. Section 12(2) then makes the state responsible for reimbursing the school for educating those children.
What the school can claim
The reimbursement is capped at the per-child recurring expenditure the state incurs in its own government schools, or the fee the private school actually charges — whichever is lower. This is the single most important rule to understand, and the one this estimator builds in. A school charging less than the state rate can claim only its own fee; a school charging more can claim only up to the state rate.
Why the rate is different in every state
There is no single national figure. Each state government calculates and notifies its own per-child cost, usually once a year, based on what it spends per child in its government schools. Because state education budgets differ enormously, so do the notified rates. Some states also notify a separate uniform or learning-material subsidy on top of the tuition figure. A number of states have, at various points, not notified a rate at all, which has historically held up reimbursement claims — so the first practical step for any school is to find its state's current notification.
How the claim actually moves
Each year the school submits enrolment data for its RTE-admitted children, typically through the Block Education Office, which consolidates and forwards it to the District Education Office for processing and release from the state treasury. In practice, reimbursements are frequently delayed or only partly approved, and claims for lakhs of students across several states have gone unpaid in past years. This is why the figure this tool produces is an estimate of entitlement, not a guarantee of receipt.
The parent is never charged
A crucial point that courts have repeatedly affirmed: the reimbursement is strictly a matter between the school and the state. A school cannot deny admission to an RTE quota child, or charge that child's family, on the grounds that the government payment is late or insufficient. The child's right is not contingent on the money reaching the school.
Who is exempt
The 25% obligation applies to non-minority private unaided schools. Minority institutions are treated differently, and some states have additional rules — for example, exemptions where a private school sits very close to a government school. Because these conditions and the exact rules vary by state, always read your state's RTE rules alongside the central Act.
From an estimate to organised claim data
Estimating the total is the easy part. The harder work is keeping each RTE-admitted child's records — admission proof, category documents, attendance and the fee that would otherwise apply — in order so the annual claim can be filed cleanly and defended if questioned. Schools use SchoolDeck's admissions and fee and finance management to tag RTE students, track them across the year, and produce audit-ready claim data per child.
For a quick estimate right now, use the calculator at the top of this page — and confirm the rate with your state education department before filing.
Frequently asked questions
RTE reimbursement calculator — FAQs
What is RTE Section 12(1)(c) reimbursement?
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Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act, 2009 requires non-minority private unaided schools to reserve at least 25% of their entry-level seats for children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups. Under Section 12(2), the state government reimburses the school for educating these children. It is a government-to-school payment; parents are never charged.
How is the RTE reimbursement amount calculated?
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The reimbursement is the lower of two figures: the per-child cost notified by the state, or the actual fee the school charges a regular student. Whichever is less is the reimbursable amount per child. This calculator applies that whichever-is-lower rule, multiplies by the number of eligible students, and adds any uniform or material subsidy your state notifies.
What is the per-child rate for RTE reimbursement?
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There is no single national rate. Each state government notifies its own per-child cost annually, based on the recurring expenditure per child in its government schools, and the rates vary widely between states. Several states have historically not notified a rate at all. You must use the rate notified by your own state, which is why this tool asks you to enter it.
Why is the reimbursement capped at the school's own fee?
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The Act limits reimbursement to the per-child expenditure incurred by the state or the actual amount the school charges, whichever is lower. So if your school's fee is lower than the state-notified rate, you can only claim your actual fee; you cannot profit from the difference. If your fee is higher, you can claim only up to the state rate.
Which classes are covered by RTE 25% reimbursement?
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The 25% reservation applies at the entry level — pre-school or Class 1, depending on where the school admits its youngest students — and the children continue with reimbursement through elementary education up to Class 8. Some states notify different per-child rates for primary and upper-primary class bands, which this tool can handle as separate bands.
Is this RTE reimbursement calculator free?
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Yes. The estimator is completely free, needs no sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser, so the figures you enter are never uploaded or stored. You can use it as often as you like on any phone or computer.
Is the estimate the guaranteed amount my school will receive?
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No. This is an indicative estimate only. The actual amount depends on your state's current notified rate, verification of each admitted child's eligibility, the claim process through your Block and District Education Offices, and the release of funds, which is often delayed. Treat the figure as a planning estimate and confirm with your state education department.
Can parents be asked to pay if reimbursement is delayed?
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No. The reimbursement is a matter between the school and the state government. A school cannot use delayed or inadequate government reimbursement as a reason to deny admission to an RTE quota child or to charge that child's parents. Courts have consistently upheld that the child's right is not contingent on the reimbursement reaching the school.
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