Proposed Behind-the-Wheel Driver Education Curriculum for Home-School Students (HB 2404)

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 98

June 6, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

Jo Lynne DeMary

Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

Proposed Behind-the-Wheel Driver Education Curriculum for Home-School Students (HB 2404)

During the 2003 session, the Virginia General Assembly approved House Bill 2404 that amends 22.1-205 and 46.2-334 of the Code of Virginia. The amendment pertaining to responsibilities for the Board of Education is as follows:

22.1-205. Driver Education Program

F. The Board of Education shall approve correspondence courses for the classroom-training component of driver education. These correspondence courses shall be consistent in quality with instructional programs developed by the Board for classroom training in the public schools. Students completing the correspondence courses for classroom training, who are eligible to take behind-the-wheel driver training, may receive behind-the-wheel driver training (i) from a public school, upon payment of the required fee, if the school division offers behind-the-wheel driver training and space is available or, (ii) from a commercial driver-training school licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, or (iii) in the case of a home schooling parent or guardian instruct his own child who meets the requirements for home school instruction under 22.1-254.1 or subdivision B 1 of 22.1-254, from a behind-the-wheel training course approved by the Board. Nothing herein shall be construed to require any school division to provide behind-the-wheel driver training to nonpublic school students.

At the May 28, 2003, meeting of the Board of Education, it was proposed that Module 11 from the Curriculum and Administrative Guide for Driver Education in Virginia be the board-approved behind-the-wheel training course used by a home-schooling parent or guardian. The Department of Education invites you to review and comment on this proposal. Module 11 can be accessed at: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/PE/ca_guide.html.

Comments will be accepted until June 20, 2003. Comments should be submitted to Vanessa Wigand at the Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120 or e-mailed to her at the address below.

If you need additional information about the proposed behind-the-wheel training course, please contact Mrs. Vanessa Wigand,(vwigand@mail.k12ed.edu), health, physical education, and driver education specialist, at (804) 225-3300.

JLD/MH