Abstract: To provide free and fair basic education for citizens, especially for those vulnerable groups, is a statutory obligation of a modern welfare state and an institutional arrangement of social welfare. The idea of an educational welfare system lies in that to offer such basic education is a duty but not “grace” or “charity” of the government. The educational welfare system must be legislated to form a multilevel and comprehensive legal framework to implement and safeguard all citizens’ equal right to be educated. The educational welfare system requires the government responding to demands of the time, if necessary, to try its best to take necessary compensatory measures for vulnerable groups to ensure their educational right. In the Outline of China’s National Plan for Medium and Longterm Education Reform and Development (2010—2020), a basic goal of equalization of public education services has been put forward. The implementation of such a goal depends on carrying out the idea of an educational welfare system and putting such an idea into systematic laws and regulations and practical policies.