The Right to Early Childhood Education in the Courts of Justice of Brazil

Abstract: This article aims to map the collective actions that discuss the right to early childhood education judged by the Courts of Justice of Brazil. The decisions analyzed were issued between October 2005 and July 2016, from all 27 Brazilian State courts. There were 289 collective actions along with 306 decisions related to the subject, with a higher concentration in the South and Southeast regions of the country. The Brazilian Public Prosecution Service was identified as the proponent in most of the lawsuits. In most cases, the right to early childhood education was recognized, ensuring access to both child care and preschool. Decisions related to budget issues and supply conditions were also identified.