This paper addresses the important issue of integrated planning for education in international development. It argues that the confluence of the discourse on integrated planning in the post-2015 global development agenda and the holistic, interlinked nature of the sustainable development goals provides a welcome window of opportunity to reflect on and to advance an integrated approach to education development. The paper develops the case for integrated approaches to development, and provides clarification on the definition and scope of integrated planning. The paper proposes three ‘dimensions’ of integration, namely, horizontal integration of the education sector with other development sectors such as health and social protection; vertical integration acrossnational and sub-national levels, and lateral integration of state and non-state actors. The paper focuses on horizontal integration and drawing on the theoretical literature as well as country case studies, discusses political, structural and technical factors that present both opportunities and challenges for implementing integrated planning in the education sector.