As a rule, transportation is arranged by the education provider for distances of 5 km and over. The smallest schools have fewer than ten pupils, and the largest ones 900. The schools can develop individual profiles by focusing on some area, such as languages, mathematics and sciences, sports, music or arts. Pupils with learning difficulties get remedial teaching in addition to normal classes. Since 1997, educational authorities have been responsible for the education of all children, including those with profound developmental disability.
Statutes determine the core subjects which all pupils study.
The government determines the national objectives for education and the number of classroom hours allocated to each subject. The school year is divided into the autumn and spring terms, totalling 190 school days. One distinctive characteristic of the Finnish comprehensive school is the number of languages studied. In principle, all pupils learn two languages besides their mother tongue, and have the option of one elective and one free-choice language. After compulsory schooling, young Finns can choose between general and vocational upper secondary education.