parent-teaching-teen-driving

Last year the Iowa Legislature passed landmark legislation friendly to the state’s home educators including parent-taught drivers education.

The new law required the Iowa Department of Transportation to develop rules surrounding the implementation of the new law including approved curriculum and what homeschooling parents are qualified to teach.

Some homeschooling parents have been frustrated to find out there is no approved curriculum and no process to seek approval to teach drivers education yet.

The Iowa Department of Transportation confirmed with Caffeinated Thoughts that the process is still under development.  “It seems like this would be a simple process, but there are a lot of moving parts,” Mark Lowe, the Director of the Motor Vehicle Division at the Iowa DOT, told Caffeinated Thoughts.  He said there were a number of statutes passed by the legislature impacting his division.  “These changes are utilizing shared resources and this is an entirely new program for us,” Lowe added.

Lowe said they have had discussions with other state departments of transportation about the program and they are going to be ready this month to release a request for proposals for driving education course providers to submit curriculum to be approved or not approved.  They are also developing the criteria for what parents are allowed to teach drivers education.  What is currently known is that the primary criteria will be parents who are dual-enrolled, involved with home school assistance programs or have filed a competent private instruction form with their local school district.  Parents opting for independent private instruction will not qualify to teach drivers education to their children.

When curriculum is approved the department will make that information available on their website, as well as, instructions on how parents may qualify to teach drivers education.

Lowe indicated that the rules-making process normally takes anywhere from three to six weeks.  He projected this option for home educating parents will be available by the 2014-2015 school year. “Our target is to have this ready to go by the start of next school year,” he said.

Photo credit: State Farm (CC-By-2.0)

You May Also Like

Iowa Workforce Development Outlines CARES Act Benefits and Implementation

Iowa Workforce Development said within ten days they would be ready to pay unemployment claims related to the CARES Act for self-employed Iowans and others.

‘Red Flag’ Legislation Is Unlikely in Iowa

Any attempt to introduce “red flag” legislation in the Iowa Legislature next session will likely face stiff opposition and is unlikely to pass.

Iowa Judge Orders Sex Ed Funding for Abortion Providers to Continue

Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin temporary blocked a new law that restricts abortion providers from receiving state sex education grant money.

Prominent Social Conservative Group Endorses Joni Ernst in Iowa U.S. Senate Race

Social conservative group FRC Action PAC, part of Family Research Council Action, endorsed State Senator Joni Ernst (R-Red Oak) in Iowa’s U.S. Senate Race.