Local high school students are once again getting the chance to get behind the wheel during driver’s education classes.
Brevard Public Schools recently accredited eight more teachers as driver’s ed instructors, which means more classes can be offered.
“I’m very excited to say we have been expanding it rather aggressively,” Stephanie Soliven, assistant superintendent for secondary leading and learning, told School Board members during a recent workshop meeting.
The expansion is targeting schools with the highest number of students on reduced or free lunches first. But whether or not a school offers driver’s ed also depends largely on teacher availability and if the school has an on-site driving course.
Most students in Florida currently take the online Driver Education/Traffic Safety course through Florida Virtual School before they get their learner’s permit. That course includes the state-required Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education training that is required of all new drivers.
“But there’s no driving in it,” said Melbourne High athletic director and driver’s ed instructor Fred Keeney.
The in-school courses combine the traffic safety course with driving on a controlled course on school property. They don’t drive outside of the course during class, but can take the state driving test from their instructor at the end of the course.
Keeney said Mel High is one of a handful of Brevard schools that currently offer driver’s ed, during a one-week course over the summer.
The cost is $120 and there is no class credit offered.
Astronaut High is the only school currently to offer driver’s ed during the school day. Other schools, including Edgewood and Viera, offer it either during the summer like Mel High, or on Saturdays or during an extra period before school. Palm Bay, Heritage, Cocoa and Cocoa Beach also currently offer driver’s ed or will begin offering it soon.
Satellite High isn’t likely to see the course offered anytime soon, because the school’s driving course was recently paved over. Students can attend driver’s ed at any other school, though, as long as there are openings.
Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy also offers a summer driver’s ed class, and several private driving schools offer teen driving courses as well.
Driver’s ed was phased out several years ago and, since then, certified teachers have retired or moved on to other positions.
In Florida, instructors must take three college-level classes to be certified in driver’s ed. Those classes are currently offered only through Nova Southeastern University.
Driver’s ed has been on the decline nationwide for several years, thanks to issues like budget cuts and difficulty with kids fitting it into a busy high school schedule. In addition, students are choosing to get licenses later than in years past.
School Board chairman John Craig told the board that he was impressed with the driver’s ed course his daughter recently completed at Edgewood.
“She walked away much more confident and, I know, a better driver,” Craig said.