INFORMATIONAL

Attached is a driver education mini-grant application.  Thirty
competitive grants are available to help fund driver education
program initiatives.   The objectives of these incentive projects
should complement the Department's focus on raising academic
standards, safety, parent and community involvement, planning,
and technology.

The deadline to submit applications is 5:00 p.m. May 10, 1996.  A
grant notification form will be sent to the Superintendent and
the Project Director on May 15, 1996.  

We invite all school divisions to take advantage of this
opportunity.  If you have any questions regarding this program,
please contact Vanessa C. Wigand at (804) 225-3300.  Best wishes
for continued success in your very important work.  


WCBJr/vcw

Attachments:   This memo and its attachment will be sent to the
               superintendent's office
              DRIVER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
                          APPLICATION


INTRODUCTION

     The Virginia Department of Education has been awarded
Highway Safety Project funds for school divisions to develop
Driver Education enrichment programs.  These incentive grants
will provide localities with seed money to develop instructional
strategies that reflect their students' needs.

     To increase learning and academic achievement for all
students in the Commonwealth, William C. Bosher, Jr.,
Superintendent of Public Instruction, has placed special emphasis
on the areas of safety, high academic standards, parent and
community involvement, planning, and technology. In keeping with
this mission, thirty competitive mini-grants of up to $1,500 will
be awarded to school divisions that devise driver education
program projects with goals that complement the Department's Five
Focus Areas.  

     The 1995 General Assembly took action on several new
provisions relative to a minor's application for a learner's
permit and driver's license.  In an effort to streamline the
licensure process for youth, the legislative action eliminates
the DMV road skills testing program and defers the assessment
responsibility to the schools.  In turn, local school boards have
been charged with developing a standardized assessment tool that
complements the local driving environment.  Until now, however,
no funds have been allocated to localities to accomplish this
task. 

     The primary goal of driver education is to produce safer
drivers.  In order to accomplish this goal, driver education must
reinforce the individual and community factors that positively
influence personal motivation and social responsibility.  When
students successfully complete an instructional program we know
what they can do, but we have no control over what they will do. 
Driver Education does help teens develop driving skills, but more
often than not, it is poor judgement that causes crashes--not
poor skill.  We must make an effort to ensure that students are
ready to handle entering the most dangerous place in the world--
public roadways-- without adult supervision.  A major challenge
for driver educators is to discover how to motivate parents to
become more realistic about their children's driving abilities,
more aware of the dangers of inexperienced driving, and more
knowledgeable about the limitations of driver education courses.  


APPLICATION DEADLINE

     The Department must receive the mini-grant applications by
5:00 p.m. on May 10, 1996.  Applications should be mailed to
Vanessa C. Wigand, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120,
Richmond, VA 23218-2120.  


PROPOSAL PREPARATION

     Organize mini-grant applications into sections that are
identifiable for the reviewer as described in Sections A - G
below. 

Section A.     Cover Sheet:   Complete the attached cover sheet. 
               Only those proposals that include all appropriate
               signatures will be accepted for review.


Section B.     Project Abstract/Summary:     Please include a
               one-page abstract or summary (maximum 300 words)
               that identifies the problem(s) to be addressed,
               the objective(s) of the project, and the
               anticipated outcome(s). 


Section C.     Needs Statement:   This section should identify:

               the target population

               the need(s) of the target population

               the components to be addressed in the program (e.g.,
               improving assessment tools, developing a parent
               involvement component)

               the design/structure of the program development
               initiative(s)  (e.g. methods and delivery system, key
               project staff and roles)


Section D.     Objectives:    List project objectives and
                              anticipated outcomes.


Section E.     Timeline: Cite the time frame involved to complete
                         each objective.  The grant duration is
                         from May 15, 1996,  to September 30,
                         1996.


Section F.     Budget:   The proposal should include discussion
                         about how funds will be used to support
                         each objective, and whether funds will
                         be used for teacher stipends,
                         substitutes, inservice training,
                         curriculum revision, publications,
                         instruments/forms, development of a
                         parent guide, cones, audio visual
                         resources, etc.  All expenditures must
                         follow school board procurement
                         procedures.  Grant requests may not
                         exceed $1,500 per project, and funds
                         will be available on a cost-reimbursement basis. 


Section G.     Evaluation:    The evaluation plan should assess
                              the project's attainment of desired
                              outcomes.


MINI-GRANT TIMELINE

April 5             Department of Education staff distributes
                    mini-grant applications


May  10             Proposals due


May  15             Department of Education announces grant
                    recipients


September 23        Deadline to submit reimbursement requests


MINI-GRANT AWARDS

Grant award letters will be mailed on May 15, 1996, to the school
division superintendent and the project manager.  


REQUESTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT

For detailed reimbursement information please refer to the
Procedures and Forms For All Federal Programs Requests For
Reimbursement  document developed and distributed to all school
divisions by the Virginia Department of Education.


              DRIVER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
                          APPLICATION



School Division   ____________________________________                                              

School   _____________________________________________


Project Director  ____________________________________


Phone # (____)______________                                                    

Fax # (____)_______________

e-mail   ______________________________

Address  _____________________________________________

_______________________________________  Zip _________            


Project Title  _______________________________________



Project Focus Area(s):  ___ Accountability     ___ Planning 
                        ___ Safety             ___ Parent and Community
                        ___ Technology


Amount of grant funds requested  $_____________  (not to exceed
$1,500 per project)


Project Director's Signature  _________________________
Date _______________


Division Superintendent's Signature  _________________________
Date  ______________