DRIVER EDUCATION
RULES AND
REGULATIONS
ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
TITLE 23: EDUCATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
SUBTITLE A: EDUCATION
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
SUBCHAPTER g: SPECIAL COURSES OF STUDY
PART 252
DRIVER EDUCATION
Section
252.10 Definitions
252.20 Administration and Procedures
252.25 Eligibility of Students
252.30 The Terms of Reimbursement for Public School Participation in
the Course
252.40 Driver Education Personnel Requirements
252.50 Commercial Schools (Transferred)
AUTHORITY: Implementing and authorized by the Driver Education Act [105
ILCS 5/27-24 through 27-24.8].
SOURCE: Adopted September 4, 1975; codified at 8 Ill. Reg. 1585;
emergency amendment at 9 Ill. Reg. 15558, effective October 1, 1985, for a
maximum of 150 days; amended at 10 Ill. Reg. 12922, effective July 22, 1986;
Section 252.50 transferred to 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1060.240 (Secretary of State)
pursuant to Section 5-80(d) of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act [5
ILCS 100/5-80(d)] and Section 6-411 of the Illinois Driver License Law [625
ILCS 5/6-411] at 11 Ill. Reg. 1631; amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 16307, effective
October 25, 1994; amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 7577, effective April 17, 1998;
amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 10476, effective July 1, 2002; amended at 28 Ill. Reg.
15481, effective November 22, 2004; amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 15936, effective
October 3, 2005; amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 10922, effective July 7, 2008; amended
at 33 Ill. Reg. 15273, effective October 20, 2009; amended at 34 Ill. Reg.
3018, effective February 18, 2010. ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.10
SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
Section 252.10 Definitions
“Behind-The-Wheel Instruction” is that part of the driver education
course that consists of individual practice driving with a driver education
instructor who meets the requirements of Section 252.40 of this Part and
provides learning experiences for the student as an operator of a dual-control
car in traffic on public highways.
"Classroom Instruction" is that part of the driver education
course consisting of learning experiences centered in the classroom.
"Declaration of Intent" is a student's application for
enrollment in a driver education course.
"Driver Education Course", as used in this Part, is any driver
education course approved by the State Superintendent as meeting at least the
minimum requirements of the Driver Education Act [105 ILCS 5/27-24 through
27-24.8] and this Part and consists of all those learning experiences provided
by a school or school district for the purpose of helping students learn to use
motor vehicles safely and efficiently. Driver education courses must include
classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction as a unified course (see Section
252.20(c)(1) of this Part).
"Dual-Control Car" is a motor vehicle that has special safety
and instructional equipment in addition to the regular legally prescribed
equipment, which shall consist of a second foot brake positioned for use by the
instructor, an outside rearview mirror on the right side of the vehicle, and a
sign identifying the vehicle as a driver education car (see 625 ILCS 5/6-410).
“Eligible Student” is a student who meets the conditions of Section
27-24.2 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/27-24.2] for enrollment in a driver
education course.
“Enrollment”, for purposes of an approved driver education course,
means the period of time beginning 30 days prior to the time a student begins
classroom instruction through the conclusion of the driver education course.
"Observation Time" refers to that time during which a student
is riding in the back seat of a dual-control car observing instructions of the
teacher and procedures and techniques of the driver who is participating in
behind-the-wheel instruction.
(Source: Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 3018, effective February 18, 2010)
ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.20 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
Section 252.20 Administration and Procedures
a) Availability of the Course -- Any public school district maintaining
grades 9 through 12 must provide the driver education course for any legal
resident of the district between the ages of 15 and 21 years who requests the
course, provided such resident is eligible as set forth in Section 27-24.2 of
the School Code. All eligible students who reside in a school district must be
provided an equal opportunity to enroll in driver education, and school
districts are obligated to make the driver education course available within a
reasonable length of time after each individual’s declaration of intent is made.
A “reasonable length of time” shall be determined based on the student's
individual needs and the school district's ability to meet those needs,
provided that the course must be offered within 12 months after the declaration
of intent.
1) Public school districts that include high schools must provide the
driver education course for all eligible students of the district who attend a
nonpublic school that does not offer the course.
2) Nonpublic schools may offer a driver education course at their own
expense.
3) Public school districts that include high schools must provide the
driver education course for all eligible Illinois students, regardless of the
district of their residence, who attend a nonpublic school located within that
school district's boundaries when application is made by the administrators of
the nonpublic school. Such an application shall constitute a declaration of
intent by the affected student or students. By April 1, the nonpublic school
shall notify the district offering the course of the names and district numbers
of the nonresident students desiring to take such a course the next school
year. The district offering the course shall notify the district of residence
of those students affected by April 15. [105 ILCS 5/27-24.4]
4) An eligible student may elect to enroll in a driver education course
at a commercial driver training school at his or her expense.
b) When to Offer the Course -- Any school district that includes one or
more high schools offering a driver education course must offer both portions
of the course during the school day and may offer either or both portions at
other times. ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.20
1) Enrollment in a driver education
course must be closed at the inception of the course, except as provided in
subsection (b)(2) of this Section. Another course may be started when
enrollment warrants.
2) A student who transfers to a new school after the inception of the
driver education course at that school may be allowed to enroll in the course
under the following conditions.
A) The driver education course in which the student was enrolled at the
previous school offered 30 clock hours of classroom instruction and 6 clock
hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
B) The length of time the student previously participated in the driver
education course (prior to his or her transfer) is sufficient to allow the
student to complete the course at the new school within the time during which
it is offered.
C) The new school has received verification, either by mail or in an
electronic format, of the student’s previous participation in the driver
education course (i.e., length of time in the course, grade(s) received). The
verification shall be placed in the student’s temporary school record as
defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 375.10.
3) A high school student may be allowed to commence the classroom
instruction part of the driver education course prior to reaching age 15 if the
student will be eligible to complete the entire course within 12 months after
being allowed to commence classroom instruction. (See Section 27-24.2 of
the School Code.)
c) Course Organization -- Driver education courses must be organized
according to the standards established in the Driver Education Act [105 ILCS
5/27-24 through 27-24.8] and this Part.
1) The classroom and the behind-the-wheel instruction each must be
scheduled regularly throughout a period of not less than six complete weeks
(four weeks allowable in summer courses and for schools using block scheduling).
2) Behind-the-wheel instruction shall not begin until the student has
started classroom instruction; however, a student may be enrolled in both
portions of the course on a concurrent basis. ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE
CODE 252.20 SUBTITLE A
3) At least one but not more than three
student observers must be in the car during behind-the-wheel instruction. At
least one hour of observation time is required for each hour of
behind-the-wheel instruction.
d) Dual-Control Cars -- The instructor shall occupy the front passenger
seat. The driver education car is to be used for instructional purposes. A
school district may not use the driver education car for purposes other than
those designated by agreement or contract.
e) Contracting -- In fulfilling the requirements of the Driver
Education Act, a public school district must either offer the course in its own
school or must provide the course for its students, and any other legal
residents of the school district who request the course, through a joint
agreement with another public school district or through the provisions of
cooperative school district programs. Schools offering a driver education
course shall not contract for the course from any individual or commercial driver
training school, except as provided in subsection (f) of this Section.
f) A public school district may contract for the provision of the
behind-the-wheel portion of the course for students who have physical
limitations that would require the use of a specially equipped car or for
students who require other specialized instruction (e.g., vision or hearing
impairments, cognitive disabilities) provided that:
1) the facility is approved by the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) as
meeting all of the requirements of Chapter 6, Article IV of the Illinois
Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/Art. IV] and of rules promulgated by SOS (see 92 Ill.
Adm. Code 1030 (Issuance of Licenses));
2) each instructor providing instruction to the public school
district’s students is certified as a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist by the
ADED – the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (see
http://www.driver-ed.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1), 2425 N. Center Street,
#369, Hickory, North Carolina 28601); and
3) the facility conducts an evaluation of the student’s physical and
cognitive abilities to determine the individualized course of instruction.
(Source: Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 15273, effective October 20, 2009)ISBE
23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.25 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
Section 252.25 Eligibility of Students
a) Pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of the School Code, no student shall be
permitted to enroll in a driver education course provided by a public school
district or a nonpublic school unless he or she has either:
1) received a passing grade in at least eight courses (which may
include courses completed in grade 8) during the previous two semesters or, in
the case of block scheduling that reduces the number of courses taken per
semester, in at least half the courses taken during the previous two semesters;
or
2) received a waiver of this requirement, pursuant to Section 27-24.2
of the School Code, from the superintendent of the public school district or
the chief administrator of the nonpublic school in which the student is or will
be enrolled full time during the semester for which enrollment in driver
education is sought. A record of any waiver granted shall be entered into the
affected student's temporary student record as defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code
375.10, or its equivalent in the case of a nonpublic high school.
b) Courses
1) For the purposes of this Section, a "course" means a
sequence of instructional activities or unit of schoolwork for which a grade is
given and listed in a student's academic transcript.
2) For the purpose of determining eligibility under this Section, any
coursework completed by a student during a summer term falling within the
12-month period immediately preceding the beginning of the semester for which
enrollment in driver education is sought shall be counted towards the eight
courses for which passing grades are needed.
c) Verification of Eligibility
1) Each public school district or nonpublic school offering a driver
education course shall be responsible for verifying the eligibility of all
students seeking enrollment in such courses.
2) Public school districts and nonpublic schools offering a driver
education course shall establish procedures for verifying the eligibility of
students enrolled there full time when eligibility is based upon the records
created ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.25 SUBTITLE A by, or
transferred to, such schools. If the public school district or nonpublic school
previously attended by a student fails to transfer records in time to permit
the student's enrollment in driver education, then unofficial records or a
signed statement from the parent or guardian of the student shall be used to
certify eligibility.
3) When a student requests enrollment in a driver education course
offered by an entity other than the school district or nonpublic school he or
she attends, the school district or nonpublic school offering the course shall
be responsible for requesting confirmation of the student's eligibility
pursuant to this Section.
A) Confirmation may be obtained either in writing or via electronic
means addressed to the official records custodian designated by the school
pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Illinois School Student Records Act [105 ILCS
10/4(a)].
B) The response shall indicate only whether or not the student is
eligible and shall not indicate what grades a student received or whether the
student received a waiver.
C) Failure of a school district or nonpublic school to respond to a
request for eligibility verification within 15 calendar days shall be construed
as a positive response and the student in question shall be considered eligible
for driver education. The requesting school district or nonpublic school shall
inform the sending district or nonpublic school, in writing, of the attempts
made to verify eligibility and the lack of response. This notification shall
indicate that, in the absence of a response, the student is considered to be
eligible provided that a signed statement by the student’s parent or guardian
is on file. A copy of the notification shall be placed in the student's
temporary record.
D) A student enrolled in a home school who wishes to enroll in a driver
education course offered by a public school district or nonpublic school shall
present, and each such entity shall accept as verification of the student's
eligibility, a signed statement stipulating:
i) that the student is enrolled in a home
school; ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.25 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
ii) that he or she is eligible pursuant
to subsection (a) of this Section; and
iii) that the signature presented is that of the individual who
administers the school attended by the student.
(Source: Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 3018, effective February 18, 2010)
ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.30 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
Section 252.30 The Terms of Reimbursement for Public School
Participation in the Course
a) Claims for Reimbursement -- These shall be made under oath or
affirmation of the chief school administrator for the district employed by the
school board or authorized driver education personnel employed by the school
board [105 ILCS 5/27-24.6].
1) Reimbursement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions
of Sections 27-24.4 and 27-24.5 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/27-24.4 and
27-24.5].
2) The school district that is the residence of an eligible pupil
who attends a nonpublic school in another district that has furnished the
driver education course shall reimburse the district offering the course the
difference between the actual per capita cost of giving the course the previous
school year and the amount reimbursed by the State (Section 27-24.4 of the
School Code). This arrangement shall also apply in the case of tuition
students who receive driver education from the districts where they are enrolled
rather than from their respective districts of residence.
3) The district may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed the amount
specified in Section 27-24.2 of the School Code to students who participate in
a driver education course approved in accordance with this Part. No other fee
or portion thereof shall be charged to students and attributed to the driver
education course. As used in this Part, "reasonable fee" means a fee
calculated by dividing the sum of documented annual district costs for items
such as instructional materials (if not included in the district's textbook
rental fee), the cost of driver education cars, car maintenance costs, fuel,
and insurance by the number of students enrolled or participating in the driver
education course. The district’s costs used in this calculation shall not
include any portion of the salaries or benefits of school district personnel.
For purposes of this calculation, the cost of driver education cars that are
purchased by the district shall be amortized over a five-year period, and the
cost of leasing cars shall be included in the fee calculation in the year the
costs are incurred.
4) The driver education fee shall be waived with respect to any student
who applies pursuant to this subsection and who is eligible for free lunches or
breakfasts pursuant to the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act [105 ILCS
125], and with respect to other students in accordance with the district's
policy adopted in accordance with Section 1.245 (Waiver of ISBE 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE
CODE 252.30 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
School Fees) of the rules of the State
Board of Education (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1, Public Schools Evaluation,
Recognition and Supervision).
b) Transfer Student – For any transfer student as defined in Section
252.20(b)(2) of this Part, reimbursement shall be claimed only by the school
district to which the student has transferred.
c) Cooperative School Programs -- In fulfilling the requirements for
reimbursement, a school district must provide a driver education course or
participate in a special education cooperative or be part of an approved joint
school agreement with another public school district.
d) Contracting – School districts providing the driver education course
through a contract as provided under Section 252.20(f) of this Part or under a
waiver granted pursuant to Section 2-3.25g of the School Code [105 ILCS
5/2-3.25g (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.100)] shall make a claim for reimbursement
by submitting, in a format specified by the State Superintendent of Education,
the names of the students successfully completing the course and the date of
course completion for each.
e) Records -- Daily attendance records shall be kept by the teachers in
the manner prescribed in Section 27-24.6 of the School Code and are to be used
to certify claims made under the Act.
1) Records in either paper or electronic format must be maintained by
the school to substantiate daily lessons, time behind the wheel, observation
time, and periodic as well as final evaluation of each student. Also recorded
shall be the beginning and ending dates of classroom and behind-the-wheel
instruction. Students are to be identified by their instructional permit
number, name, address and other personal information.
2) Such records are to be on file in the office of the driver education
supervisor, principal, or other manager at the time reimbursement and/or
certification is requested.
3) Driver education participation records are to be kept and be readily
available for a period of not less than three years.
4) All records are subject to yearly audit by State auditors.
(Source: Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 15273, effective October 20, 2009) 23
ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.40 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
Section 252.40 Driver Education Personnel Requirements
a) Qualifications of Teachers -- All persons who teach a driver
education course must meet the applicable standards of this subsection (a).
1) A driver education instructor who teaches in a public school
district shall hold a secondary teaching certificate and either have an
endorsement for safety and driver education or meet the requirements of 23 Ill.
Adm. Code 1.730(q) through January 31, 2012. Each individual first assigned to
teach safety and driver education on or after February 1, 2012 shall be
required to hold a certificate valid for the secondary grades and an
endorsement received pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.100(n).
2) A driver education instructor who teaches in a nonpublic school is
not required to be certified but must hold a baccalaureate degree, or
equivalent as determined by the employing school, and meet the requirements of
23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.730(q) through January 31, 2012. Each individual first
assigned to teach safety and driver education on or after February 1, 2012 shall
meet the course requirements of 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.100(n).
3) A driver education instructor who teaches in either a public school
district or in a nonpublic school must:
A) possess good physical health as determined in accordance with
Section 24-5 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/24-5]; and
B) hold a valid driver’s license in good standing that has been issued
by the state in which he or she resides. For the purposes of this subsection
(a)(3)(B), a driver’s license issued in Illinois shall not be considered valid
and in good standing if it is revoked, suspended, expired or cancelled as
described in Sections 6-201 through 6-209 of the Illinois Driver Licensing Law
[625 ILCS 5/6-201 through 6-209] or if restrictions have been placed on driving
privileges through either a restricted driving permit under Section 6-205 or
judicial driving permit under Section 6-206.1.
4) Additional requirements will not be retroactive as pertaining to
those qualified under standards applicable prior to September 1, 1962, so long
as they continue to teach driver education in the same district, except in the
event the method of instruction has been changed to include simulation and/or
multiple-car laboratory instruction. (See 23 Ill. Adm. Code 23 ILLINOIS
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.40 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
1.730(q).) The prescribed additional
requirements effective July 1, 1969, must be met.
5) When schools have a department chairman or a person designated to
supervise the driver education program, this person must be qualified as
described in this Section.
b) Invalid Driver’s License – The State Board of Education, using
information provided by the Secretary of State, shall on a regular basis
provide to school districts and nonpublic schools employing driver education
instructors who possess Illinois driver’s licenses a list of driver education
instructors who are in possession of an invalid driver’s license as described
in subsection (a)(3)(B) of this Section. It shall be the responsibility of the
school district or nonpublic school employing an instructor who holds an
out-of-state license to ensure that that license is valid and in good standing
(e.g., has not been revoked, suspended, expired, or cancelled or is restricted
by the state issuing the license).
1) After receiving the list, or confirmation that an out-of-state
license is invalid, the school district or nonpublic school shall inform each
of the instructors in writing of the determination that he or she is in
possession of an invalid license and that he or she has no more than five
school days to provide evidence to the school district or nonpublic school
disputing the determination.
2) If the initial determination is found to be correct (i.e., the
instructor’s license is not valid), then the driver education instructor shall
be removed from the driver education program immediately.
3) A driver education instructor who is removed from his or her
teaching position due to an invalid license shall not be allowed to teach a
driver education course for three years following the reinstatement of a valid
driver’s license.
4) For the purposes of this subsection (b), a driver education
instructor shall not be subject to the three-year suspension described in
subsection (b)(3) of this Section if:
A) the invalid license is restored to good standing, and
B) the reason that the license was invalidated is due to a non-serious
violation not related to driving ability or performance (e.g., failure 23
ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.40 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
to renew a license, failure to pay
traffic fines, not possessing a mandatory insurance card).
c) Administrators and teachers of State-approved high school driver
education courses shall not acquire an interest in, teach in, or solicit for a
commercial driver training school.
(Source: Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 15273, effective October 20, 2009) 23
ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 252.50 SUBTITLE A SUBCHAPTER g
Section 252.50 Commercial Schools (Transferred)
(Source: Section 252.50 transferred to 92 Ill. Adm. Code
1060.240 (Secretary of State) pursuant to Section 5-80(d) of the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch.
127, par. 1005-80(d)) and Section 6-411 of the Illinois Driver License Law
(Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-411) at 11
Ill. Reg. 1631.