Short answer: Brazil's Federal Law No. 9,870/1999 does not set a maximum percentage for private-school tuition increases. That does not mean a school may raise prices arbitrarily. The 2027 amount must start from the legally defined base for the previous period, and any increase must be proportional to changes in personnel and operating costs, including costs related to teaching improvements, supported by a cost spreadsheet.
How 2027 tuition should be calculated
Federal Law No. 9,870/1999 regulates the total annual or semester tuition amount, rather than allowing a free adjustment to a single monthly installment. The base is the last legally established installment of the previous year's annual or semester tuition multiplied by the number of installments in the academic period. A proportional amount reflecting the school's cost variation may then be added.
Decree No. 3,274/1999 regulates the cost spreadsheet and lists items such as teaching and administrative staff, social charges, materials, maintenance, outsourced services, utilities, taxes, rent and other expenses. The key question, therefore, is not whether the increase exceeds a particular inflation index, but whether it has a demonstrable economic basis and was presented transparently.
Illustrative example only: if the last legally established 2026 installment is BRL 1,000 in a 12-installment annual program, the annual base is BRL 12,000. The school may propose a higher 2027 total provided that the additional amount reflects cost changes that can be demonstrated. This example does not establish an acceptable percentage for every case.
What a school may do, may not do, and must disclose
| Situation | Practical rule | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| May | Adjust annual or semester tuition for 2027 without being subject to a specific statutory percentage cap. | The increase must be related to cost variation and may include teaching and pedagogical improvements. |
| May | Offer payment plans with a different number of installments. | The sum of alternative installments may not exceed the calculated annual or semester total. |
| May not | Apply a contractual adjustment to installments less than one year after the amount was fixed, unless expressly authorized by law. | Check whether the contract creates an increase during the academic period without a legal basis. |
| May not | Charge enrollment as an extra amount on top of annual or semester tuition. | According to Procon-SP, the enrollment payment is part of the total contracted amount. |
| Must disclose | The proposed contract, the total amount and the number of seats per class. | The information must be made easily accessible at least 45 days before the final enrollment date. |
| Must be able to justify | The economic composition of the increase. | The cost variation supporting the adjustment must be demonstrable through a cost spreadsheet. |
What the school needs to justify
Families should separate two ideas: there is no fixed percentage ceiling, but there are legal criteria for setting the new amount. The school must be able to show that the increase results from costs such as payroll, social charges, maintenance, services, taxes or improvements to the educational process. The official spreadsheet model under Decree No. 3,274/1999 exists to document that composition.
Guidance published by Procon-SP on September 1, 2026 reiterates that the law establishes no maximum adjustment percentage and recommends that parents and guardians ask for detailed explanations, review the contract and compare offers before re-enrolling.
The transparency duty also relates to Brazil's Consumer Protection Code, which guarantees adequate and clear information about price and service conditions.
What to check before signing the re-enrollment contract
- Total annual or semester amount: compare the full 2027 total with the amount actually contracted in 2026, rather than comparing only one monthly installment.
- Increase percentage: calculate the change to understand its size, but do not treat inflation, the minimum wage or another isolated index as an automatic legal cap.
- Explanation for the increase: ask in writing which cost groups justify it and, if necessary, request documents or the spreadsheet needed to understand the calculation.
- Number and value of installments: confirm that enrollment, monthly installments and any alternative payment plans add up exactly to the contracted total.
- Discounts: check deadlines, on-time-payment conditions, duration and whether the benefit is stated in writing.
- Cancellation and transfer: read the rules on withdrawal, refunds, penalties and transfer procedures.
- Due dates, late fees and interest: confirm all terms before signing.
- Included services: identify what is covered by tuition and what may be charged separately on a lawful basis.
How to compare the 2027 increase
A useful comparison starts with the total amount. Add everything contracted for 2026 and do the same with the 2027 proposal. Then calculate the percentage increase using: (new amount − previous amount) ÷ previous amount × 100. This percentage helps frame the discussion with the school, but it does not by itself determine whether the increase is lawful.
If the percentage appears unusually high, ask which expenses increased the most, what pedagogical improvements are being introduced and how those items appear in the cost spreadsheet. A generic answer with no connection to the price composition should be questioned.
Documents worth keeping
- the 2026 contract and the 2027 re-enrollment proposal or contract;
- payment slips, receipts and proof of payment showing the amounts actually paid;
- school notices about the increase, discounts and changes to the educational program;
- the cost spreadsheet, calculation notes or explanations supplied by the school;
- advertising or messages stating prices and conditions;
- emails, protocol numbers and responses to requests for clarification;
- proof of any enrollment or seat-reservation payment;
- cancellation, transfer or negotiation requests, when applicable.
These records make it easier to compare terms and, if a dispute arises, show what was offered, contracted and charged.
What to do if the explanation is not convincing
First, ask the school for a clear written explanation of how the 2027 amount was formed. If the response does not clarify the source of the increase, formally record the question and keep all protocol numbers. If the disagreement remains, the family may seek guidance from the local consumer protection agency (Procon) and present the contract, proposal, receipts and communications received.
The point is not to assume that every large increase is unlawful, nor that any spreadsheet automatically makes an increase valid. The assessment depends on the consistency between the amount charged, the costs demonstrated, the information provided and the contractual terms.
Official sources
- Procon-SP / Agência SP — guidance on re-enrollment and tuition adjustments, published September 1, 2026
- Federal Law No. 9,870/1999 — school annual and semester tuition
- Decree No. 3,274/1999 — cost spreadsheet model
- Brazilian Consumer Protection Code
Informational content only. Individual cases may require specific legal review.
