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Naperville 203 board approves waiver to allow higher driver education fee; board hears equity and cost questions

Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board of Education · January 21, 2026

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Summary

Naperville CUSD 203 approved a five‑year waiver allowing the district to set driver's education fees up to $500, a change administration says could yield roughly $50,000 annually if the fee is raised to the cap. Board members probed program costs, special‑needs accommodations, and state reimbursement trends before approving the waiver.

The Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board of Education on Jan. 20 approved an application to the Illinois State Board of Education that would allow the district to charge up to $500 for its driver's education course over the next five years.

Administration told the Board the district currently charges $400 and has in recent years set the fee at the maximum allowed by prior waivers. A memo attached to the application shows the district subsidizes the program; administration said raising the maximum to $500 could bring in up to approximately $50,000 in additional revenue and help narrow—but not eliminate—the program's operating deficit.

Board members asked whether driving instructors are district employees (administration said they are) and whether the district provides specialized driver's ed instruction for students with disabilities; the district said IEPs and 504 plans govern accommodations and the course is delivered consistent with those supports. The administration also placed the district’s situation in the statewide funding context, noting Illinois appropriations for driver's education declined from roughly $18 million several years ago to $10 million, then rose to $14 million last year.

Amanda McMillan (first referenced as a board member in the meeting roll call) asked whether approving the waiver requires the Board to immediately set the fee at $500; administration said the waiver only permits a fee up to $500 and the Board will set the exact fee annually. The administration said fees are set each year by the Board and that the current proposal simply expands the Board's options for the next five years.

The board closed the public hearing earlier in the meeting and later adopted the waiver in the action portion of the agenda. The vote to approve the waiver was taken by roll call and the motion passed.