Driver Education is taught as part of health and physical education in the tenth grade. The program consists of classroom training, driving simulation, and behind-the-wheel training. The classroom and in-car driver education standards are intended to help students develop conceptual understanding of safe driving practices. The classroom phase of driver education consists of 36 hours of instruction. The Virginia Standards of Learning stress safe driving skills and safe driving attitudes. Emphasis is placed on linking the skills of visual search, managing time and space, and maintaining vehicle balance. Significant attention is given to awareness of risks, maintenance of alertness, driver distractions, and protection of occupants.
Driver License Information
In order to obtain a Virginia driver's license, the student must be a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia and at least 16 years and 3 months of age. Students must hold a learner’s permit for nine months before receiving their Virginia driver’s license. Learner's permit testing is also offered on a first come, first served basis in select high schools. For more information, please contact the driver education coordinator at your child's school.
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Students younger than 18 must have a parent, foster parent, or guardian certify that they have driven a motor vehicle for at least 50 hours that includes a minimum of 15 hours after sunset.
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The behind-the-wheel instructor will administer the road test. If the student successfully passes the test, meets all the licensing requirements, and the school receives written permission from the parent to license the child, the school will issue the student a 180-Day Temporary Provisional Driver’s License, which serves as a valid Virginia Driver’s License when accompanied by a learner’s permit.
To obtain a learner's permit, the student must be at least 15 years and 6 months of age, which is a DMV requirement. If the student is under the age of 18, he/she must provide written consent from a parent or legal guardian. The student must also have completed a state-approved driver education program.
Students who fail the DMV knowledge test three times must subsequently complete a classroom driver education course before being eligible to take the test a fourth time.
Further questions, please contact your high school driver education teacher or coordinator.