Driver’s Education has become a major focus around the state because of the new statute passed in 2005 known as Joshua’s Law. While Savannah Christian has taught Driver’s Education for more than 34 years with a certified instructor, the new law now requires schools to hold a full license registered with the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services. Previously, the Department of Education has not required schools which taught Driver’s Education to have a full license. As a result of the new law, the Upper school has worked franticly to get the program licensed and registered with the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services.
The new law calls for 30 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of comprehensive driving
experience with a parent or 6 hours with a certified driving instructor and 40 hours of supervised driving experience
with a parent. As a result of this change and its license SCPS will change its program of instruction. Starting the
second semester of 2007 the Driver’s Education program will give certificates for the 30 hours of classroom instruction
but the 40 hours of driving experience will be verified by parents of our students. Parents will be given the Georgia
Department of Driver Services 40 Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide which will explain how to fulfill the behind the wheel
experience needed to get a license and it will explain what paperwork is needed.
For those students who completed Driver’s Education, SCPS will issue a certificate of completion for
the 30 hours of classroom instruction. The parents will have to complete 40 hours of comprehensive driving experience.
Under the previous law, parents were required to complete 40 hours of supervised driving experience. The specifics
for completion of the 40 hours of comprehensive driving experience can be found on the
Georgia Department of Driver
Services website
All students will be able to take their certificates along with the completed paper work from Georgia Department of Driver Services 40 Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide with them to the Department of Motor Vehicles and obtain a driver’s license. By reformatting our Driver’s Education we will be able to meet the needs of more students while allowing them to complete the classroom hours at school and the driving requirements with their parents.
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