McCallie School student Drew Shikoh, 15, left, listens as Bob Bauer instructs him during his first in-car lesson during a Haman’s Driving School class at Northgate Mall on Thursday.AT A GLANCENorth Georgia public schools that offer driver’s education:• Calhoun High School• Gordon Lee High School• Dalton High School• Gordon Central High School• Sonoraville High School• Murray County High School• North Murray County High SchoolSource: Georgia Department of Driving Services
When Zach Papp moved from Dalton, Ga., and started attending Northwest Whitfield High School, he no longer had the option to sign up for driver’s education classes at school.
Instead, the teenager scoured the Internet along with his friends, looking for options to avoid paying more than $400 to meet the state’s license requirements at a commercial school.
As state seed grants expire and tough budget cuts show no sign of easing, more school districts have been dropping their driver’s education programs. That means the burden falls on parents and teens to find an alternative to meet the 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours behind the wheel needed along with 40 hours driving time in order to qualify for a driver’s license at 16.
They can still receive a license without the instruction at age 17 with 40 hours experience on the road with a parent.