How did France’s salles d’asile become part of the national educational system?

In France, the salles d’asile (literally "halls of refuge") transitioned from private institutions to state-supported entities in 1833, at which point they were formally integrated into the national educational system.1

Originally established as infant schools to provide care and instruction for young children while their parents worked, these institutions were later officially renamed écoles maternelles (maternal schools). The central government’s decision to incorporate them into the national system reflected a shift toward recognizing the importance of early childhood care and education, with the state eventually providing subsidies and setting guidelines for their operation.21