As you may or may not be aware, driver education was not part of the planning allotments for fiscal year 2010-2011. There was a continuation review requested as part of the budget bill of the 2009 session of the General Assembly. Section 6.6E. (c) required the Department of Transportation to do a review of the Driver Education Program. The Continuation Review Program is intended to assist the General Assembly in determining whether to continue, reduce, or eliminate funding for the program. If the funding is eliminated, LEA’s would not be able to provide Driver Education service to students after June 30, 2010.
DPI was contacted and required to provide the General Assembly a report to justify continued use of Highway Funds to continue the funding for public schools. This report was provided to the General Assembly on March 1, 2010. DPI recommended to continue the funding for public schools to either contract the services or provide the services as an in house program outside of the instructional day.
Gene Causby has been working diligently on this since we were made aware of what is taking place. He has been in direct contact with State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison, Rep. Rick Glazier and Rep. Younge as well as others. Gene feels that our funding will be restored; however he is suggesting that we contact our legislative members immediately and ask for their support in restoring driver education funding to the continuation budget.
