By CSBA Business Affiliate Coastline Academy
For many, memories of driver’s education begin with scenes not from behind the wheel, but in a typical high school classroom. Often included as part of a health class sequence, driver’s education and training was once a mainstay of California high school curriculum, with students throughout the state receiving their introduction to the rules of the road from a teachers. Not only did high schools offer free driver’s ed coursework, but the required behind-the-wheel training as well, an experience that might cause more than a few palms to sweat in recollection, even decades later.
While there seems to be an acceptance that driver’s education is simply no longer offered in high schools, the reality of the situation is a bit more complicated.
SFGate reported that in 1990, around 250,000 students in 250 schools across California received behind-the-wheel training through their public high school. That same year, state budget cuts were enacted that eliminated the funding for driver’s ed courses in public schools, putting the brakes on most in-school driver’s training programs. By 2007, only 440 students in seven schools received practical training, while as few as one in four California high schools continued to offer classroom driver’s ed.
Despite these low numbers, California schools are technically required to offer free driver’s education to all of their eligible students, as stated in the California Education Code 51220(j), 51220.1, and 51850-51854. It is important to note the distinction between driver’s education and driver’s training. Driver’s education refers to the 30 hours of classroom instruction that will allow a student to test for their permit. Driver’s training, more commonly known as “behind-the-wheel instruction,” consists of practical training with a driving instructor. Students under 18 must complete six hours of in-car lessons before being eligible to take their road test for a driver’s license.
A lack of state funding for the requirement makes it difficult for districts to offer driver’s ed. Many districts opt not to offer it in favor of electives and coursework focusing on college preparation. With in-school options limited, parents and teens are forced to look to the private sector for driver’s ed, with many teens forgoing the licensing process altogether or preferring to wait until they are 18 and not bound by California’s strict requirements for teen drivers.
The Federal Highway Administration found that the percentage of 16- to 19-year-olds with driver’s licenses in the U.S. has declined from 64 percent in 1995 to 40 percent in 2021, as reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
While providing high-quality instruction, private programs can be costly, especially for families with more than one teen driver. In addition, teens must complete their driver’s ed coursework and practical lessons on top of increasingly demanding schoolwork and extracurricular activities, leaving little room in a schedule that prioritizes preparation for college. An unfortunate consequence of these hurdles is an uptick in reports of teens driving to and from school without proper licensure, especially in more rural areas where driving is an absolute necessity. Without proper education and training, these teens pose a danger to themselves and others on the road.
Can driver’s education make a comeback in schools?
Driver’s education may never go back to the way many remember it, but collaborations between private driving schools and local school districts are paving the way for an updated model of in-school driver’s education. Many private driving schools are offering Department of Motor Vehicles-certified, online driver’s ed curriculum to California schools, with businesses like Coastline Academy charging as little as $1 per student for this service (this fee covers the costs associated with mailing a completion certificate). None of the expense is passed on to the student. This cost-effective option is more convenient for students and their families, as they can avoid hours of frustrating internet searches and reviews trying to find the right provider.
Although in-car instruction is unlikely to return to public schools due to liability issues, these collaborations with private driving schools provide an end-to-end service, transitioning new drivers seamlessly from trusted online learning providers to local behind-the-wheel training with experienced, certified driving instructors licensed by the State of California.
Best of all is that a return to in-school driver’s ed can help lead to more safety on the road. It is essential for anyone who gets behind the wheel to be knowledgeable about state driving laws and how to operate a motor vehicle safely in all types of conditions.
“It’s really about public safety,” said Nigel Tunnacliffe, owner of CSBA Business Partner Coastline Academy, a driving school serving over 250,000 students in eight states, including California. “Driver education is essential to developing the foundation for safe and effective behavior behind the wheel, especially for new teen drivers. Bringing these programs back into public schools — making them accessible to students all over the state, regardless of location or income level — is crucial to ensuring the safety of our teens on the road.”
Daria Binkowski is a curriculum developer and content writer for Coastline Academy. She is a licensed driving instructor in California and has over 10 years of experience as a professional educator.
For more information on driver’s ed at your LEA: https://coastlineacademy.com/article/1-drivers-education-for-california-school-district