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District expands driver safety elective, funds scholarships to widen student access to driver education
Summary
Crook County SD added an in-house driver safety elective with simulators and expanded scholarships and payment plans for High Desert ESD driver’s education courses. Staff reported more flexible scheduling and partial scholarships to lower the cost barrier for families.
The board heard an update on the district’s new driver-safety offerings and scholarship program designed to increase students’ access to driver education.
Staff described a driver safety elective taught by a district teacher using driving simulators and designed to prepare students for the permit test. The district continues to partner with High Desert Education Service District (ESD) for formal behind-the-wheel driver’s education, and staff said they have awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships so far to help families cover the program fee (roughly $800 per student). In addition, the ESD and the district now offer half scholarships and payment plans to reduce barriers.
District staff said 31 students have taken the full driver’s education program to date and that the in-house safety elective (no additional cost) is intended to complement and expand access to behind-the-wheel instruction. The board was told the district has an ESD-certified employee based at the school who can provide drives during the school day, reducing a constraint for students who cannot attend after school.
Board members and staff described the initiative as a response to concerns about unlicensed driving among students; staff said the program is designed to increase the number of licensed, insured teen drivers while offering options (simulator-based safety elective, scholarships, payment plans and traditional ESD courses). The district will continue to seek funding to cover more scholarships and to expand capacity.
