Changes in the motor vehicle law effective July 1, 2001 effect students in several ways. Students may now obtain their learner's permit at 15 years 6 months of age. The intent of the new law is to create more time for the parent to instruct and supervise the student prior to obtaining the permanent license. Therefore, the following sequence of events is recommended:

Apply for the learner's permit on or after the student is 15 years and 6 months of age or as soon as the parent feels the student is ready for such responsibility. To obtain the learner's permit at the DMV you will need the student's birth certificate and social security card. The student must complete an application, take an exam, vision test and pay the license fee. After obtaining the learner's permit, the student should stop by the driver education office at his/her school and pick up the Parent/Student Driver Education Handbook. The handbook has practical tips for teaching the student how to drive. Also the parent will find a handy driving log to record driving time. The DMV requires submission of a forty-five hour driving log when the student receives the temporary license (thirty hours of daylight driving and 15 hours of driving after sunset).

During the student's sophomore year, the 36 hour driver's education classroom will be provided as part of the Health II curriculum during September and October. Students are cautioned not to be absent during this seven week period, as excuses from parents and doctors do not exempt one from the DMV requirement.

Near the sixteenth birthday schedule the student for behind the wheel training (tuition is $245 for 2008-09). Students must have completed or at least begun the 36 hour classroom before beginning behind the wheel training.  Please note that the last day of training contains a road skills exam. The student no longer goes to the DMV for a final road test. This is now done at the school. Upon passing the road skills test, the student is eligible to receive a temporary driver's license on or after age 16 years and 3 months. The parent must come in (with their own driver's license or DMV issued I.D.) with the student to sign the license and submit the driving log. This temporary license in combination with the learner's permit allows the student to drive alone for 6 months, until the permanent license arrives, and is distributed at the local juvenile court.

DRIVER EDUCATION BEHIND-THE-WHEEL will be offered in the morning from 7:30-8:30 am and in the afternoon from 4-6 pm or 4:15-6:15 pm weekdays throughout the school year. To register for behind-the-wheel training, students must:

• Possess their learner's permit ;
• Have completed or at least started the 36 hour classroom;
• Submit the certificate of attendance from a parent seminar;
• Pay the Range fee;
• Submit a completed registration form & parent permission form.

To be eligible for the permanent license students must:

• Be 16 years and 3 months of age, complete & hand in 45 hr. driving log,
• Have held learner's permit for nine months,
• Have completed the 36 period classroom,
• Passed the behind-the-wheel course.