Online Driver Education

Transcription

1 Online Driver Education For Teens Years Old Aldine ISD Information Packet If you have questions about the course, Randall Port O Call, Amarillo, TX Course Provider #2636 Page 1 of 7

2 32 Hour Driver Education Course Overview Virtual Drive Management, LLC has received full TEA approval to offer the first and to date the only 32 hour, online driver education course that includes an online instructor. This course is a streamlined version of our popular 56 hour course offered thru TxVSN. These two courses, combined with our Adult Driver Education course, provide districts/high schools a driver education solution to meet the diverse needs of their students, parents and community. As the State s leader in Computer Based Training Driver Education, the Virtual Drive Management, LLC courses have proven to be highly successful in deterring teen age driving accidents and moving violations. When it is all said and done, this is the most important statistic a driver education company and course can tout. Virtual Drive Management, LLC has verifiable surveys performed by an accredited Texas State University that shows students who successfully complete this course have much lower accident and moving violation rates than other national driver education courses on the market today. Course Highlights: This online course meets the classroom requirements of the TEA and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). It consists of 10 modules and each module contains multiple lessons, topics and support material. (See attached Course Outline) Students can easily navigate through each module aided by graphic illustrations, graphic animations, video clips, photographs, mouse roll overs, and easy to understand explanations of correct driving techniques. An online, Texas certified driver education instructor is available to answer a student s technical and course material questions. Once the student completes the entire course successfully, Virtual Drive Management will mail a Certificate of Completion for each student. The student and parent(s) take the bottom section only of this certificate and other personal documents to the DPS office to take the Learner s Permit test. After obtaining the Learner s Permit, students will receive in car training with either their parents or a certified driving instructor. NOTE: Virtual Drive Management does not provide the certified instructor for in car training. If parents choose not to perform the in car instruction with their child, then the cost to obtain a certified in car instructor is their responsibility. After the parents and/or in car driving instructor have completed the 34 hours of supervised driving, the student has held their Learner s Permit for at least 6 months and is 16 years of age or older, the student can apply for their student driver license at the DPS office. Page 2 of 7

3 Curriculum Outline Item Topic Qty of Lessons Introduction Module 1 Knowing Texas Travel Laws 6 Lessons Module 2 Preparing to Operate A Vehicle 4 Lessons Module 3 Basic Maneuvering Tasks 4 Lessons Module 4 Basic Maneuvering Tasks/Low 4 Lessons Module 5 Driver Readiness 4 Lessons Module 6 Highway Driving 4 Lessons Module 7 Alcohol and Other Drugs 4 Lessons Module 8 Driver Performance/Personal Factors 4 Lessons Module 9 Adverse Conditions 4 Lessons Module 10 Personal Responsibility 4 Lessons Final Assessment Student Eligibility Requirements for Teen Course The student must be enrolled in a Texas district or open enrollment charter school serving grades 9 12 The course is successfully completed during the fall, spring or summer semester. The student is between the ages of 14 years, 9 months & 17 years, 3 months. The student is otherwise eligible to take Driver Education. Course Website Address: To log in to the course, students should go to the website, below. Page 3 of 7

4 Important Items To Remember 1) Enroll & pay for the course, online. The website to enroll or for more information is: 2) Make sure your name, address, mailing address, phone # and date of birth are correct during enrollment. 3) PARENTS/STUDENTS: You will create a Username and Password during the enrollment process. *** You Must Remember Your Username and Password. *** 4) PARENTS: If the parents are providing the In Car instruction to their child, you must obtain a copy of Form DL 92 & mail it, with $20.00, to the State DPS office in Austin, as soon as possible. A copy of Form DL 92 can be obtained by an Internet search or by clicking HERE. 5) After enrolling, the website to log in to the course is: 6) STUDENTS: This course is self paced; however, State law limits online classroom instruction to a maximum of 2 hours per day. The course may be completed in as few as 20 calendar days. 7) PARENTS/STUDENTS: After successfully completing the course, Virtual Drive will mail a Certificate of Completion to the student s address provided during Enrollment. Once again, please make sure your name and address are correct. 8) STUDENTS: You must have a Learner s Permit to drive. The Learner s Permit only allows you to drive with a licensed driver who is 21 years old or older in the car. 9) GETTING THE LEARNER S PERMIT: A Parent and their child will need to take the following documents to the local DPS office: a. ONLY THE BOTTOM PORTION of the Certificate of Completion (It is labeled FOR INSTRUCTION PERMIT ONLY). b. VOE Verification of Enrollment (From High School Counselor) c. Birth Certificate (Original) d. Social Security Card e. There will be a $16.00 fee to take the Learner Permit test and the eye examination. ** The student will have to take the permit exam given at the DPS office, no exceptions. Remember to take only the BOTTOM portion of your Certificate of Completion to get your permit. ** Page 4 of 7

5 Important Items To Remember (continued) 10) PARENTS WHO PROVIDE IN CAR INSTRUCTION: This online course includes a section for you. This portion of the course teaches you how to perform the in car driving instruction with your child. You will need to print each driving lesson and take it with you when providing incar driving instruction and check off each task your child completes successfully. 11) GETTING YOUR DRIVER S LICENSE: After the parents and student have completed the 34 hours of In Car driving instruction, the student has held their Learner s Permit for at least 6 months and the student is 16 years of age or older, he/she may apply for their student driver license at the DPS office. Parents/Students will need to schedule a Driving Test appointment with a DPS officer. Parents will need to accompany their child to the DPS office. Please be sure to at least the following documents: a) THE TOP PORTION of the Certificate of Completion (It is labeled FOR DRIVER S LICENSE ONLY). b) All of the Driving Logs that were printed from the course. These logs must be completed and signed by the Parent and the Student. c) Birth Certificate d) Social Security Card e) Learner s Permit Page 5 of 7

6 In Car / Behind The Wheel Instruction Options Option #1 Parent Taught In Car Driver Training This option is available to all parents who meet the qualifications of the state of Texas. These qualifications are very simple and are listed on the DL 92 form that you will need to send to Austin for registration. Most parents will choose this method because of the ease, flexibility and its lower cost. How to sign up for Parent Taught In Car or Behind The Wheel Training: Step 1 Fill out the DL 92 registration form. This form is available in this package or at: 92.pdf Step 2 Print & complete the form Step 3 Send the form, along with a $20 check, to the address on the top left. You will receive your Parent Packet from the DPS in approximately 3 weeks. Step 4 Review all of the sections in the Parent section portion of the course. Print out each driving lesson and take them with you when conducting the behind the wheel instruction. REMEMBER: Your child must be at least 15 years of age, and must have successfully completed this 32 hour course before being eligible for the Learner s Permit. He/She will then have to hold the Learner s Permit at least 6 months and be 16 years of age in order to be eligible for their Driver License. During this 6 month period, the parent or a certified driving instructor can provide the in car instruction. Option #2 Professional Driving School or Certified Instructor If you live in a community where a professional driving school or a Certified Instructor is available, this is certainly an option. Most professional driving schools prefer to take the student through the entire program so you will have to check with them before you decide on this method. The cost will be between $300 and $400. The driving school or the certified instructor will be responsible for a) 7 hours of direct behind the wheel instruction and b) 7 hours of observation, meaning that the student will not be driving but in the back seat observing another student. The parent will still be responsible for the additional 20 hours of supervised driving. If you choose this method, the driver training schedule is less flexible. You will be provided the time slots that are available by the driving school/instructor and you will have to work into their schedule. Most approved driving schools and certified instructors are very knowledgeable and experienced. This is a very safe and sound method of choice. Page 6 of 7

7 Computer Equipment & Technical Needs WINDOWS Pentium 133 processor Windows 2000/XP 64 meg RAM Video Card 800 x 600 display Sound Card with speakers Color Monitor Internet Connection Flash Player Acrobat Reader Printer MAC OS X.1 or later 128 MB RAM for OS X.1 or later 800 x color monitor Internet Connection Flash Player Acrobat Reader Printer The following settings and plug ins must be active in order to view this course: Shockwave Adobe Flash Player Adobe Acrobat Reader Cookies must be enabled Pop Up Blockers must be turned "Off" Page 7 of 7

8 Mail request form and $20.00 fee to: Texas Department of Public Safety PO Box Austin, TX REQUEST FOR A PARENT TAUGHT DRIVER EDUCATION PACKET DL-92 (Rev. 5/12) DO NOT MAIL CASH. Mail check or money order payable to: Texas Department of Public Safety. A separate request form and fee are required for each student who will participate in the Parent Taught Driver Education Program. Program Eligibility Requirements Student must be 14 years of age prior to beginning the classroom portion, however they may not test for a learner license until their 15th birthday. Instructor must be the student s parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction. A power of attorney is not legally sufficient. The instructor must have a valid driver license for the preceding three years; or if active military personnel or spouse, a valid driver license from state of permanent residency or last duty station for the preceding three years. The instructor cannot have a conviction (including a probated sentence) of criminally negligent homicide or driving while intoxicated. In addition, the instructor must not have had their driving privileges suspended, revoked or forfeited for traffic related violations in the past three years. The instructor is responsible for checking both their criminal or driver records prior to requesting the packet. The Department will verify the instructor s record at the time of processing the student s learner license and again at the time of processing the student s provisional driver license. If at that time, we determine that the instructor does not meet the requirements, we will deny the learner license or provisional driver license along with any prior classroom instruction or behind the wheel/in car instruction provided by the ineligible instructor. The instructor may not be disabled due to mental illness. Questions as to mental stability will be forwarded to the Medical Advisory Board for determination. The instructor may go to any local driver license office to have the student apply for the license and take the required test. (Some stations require an appointment or may allow online scheduling for the skills test.) NOTE: ALL INFORMATION AND REQUIRED FEE MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE A PARENT TAUGHT DRIVER EDUCATION PACKET WILL BE MAILED. PLEASE ALLOW 2-3 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY. Please print or type in black ink. This form is read by machine; please print the numbers and letters as shown below: Instructor s Information (Parent or Legal Guardian). The Parent Taught Driver Education Packet will be mailed to the address below. First Name Last Name Mailing Address City State Zip Code Daytime Telephone Number (include area code) Instructor s address Check to have packet ed Student s Information. Complete the legal name for the student. First Name Middle Name Last Name Suffix (Jr., Sr., etc.) Instructor s Signature Date of birth Student s address Date See other side for additional qualifying information

9 Important Instructions - Read Carefully 1. No instruction is permitted prior to receipt of the Parent Taught Driver Education Packet. Any instruction prior to that time will not be accepted toward the required instruction time. 2. A minimum of 66 hours of actual instruction time is required to instruct this course and it is estimated that an equal number of hours for preparation are required for an instructor to properly teach this course. The classroom thirty-two hours must not be completed in fewer than sixteen calendar days. The behind the wheel thirty-four hours must not be completed in fewer than twenty-seven calendar days. A student shall not be instructed more than two hours in one (1) day. 3. This course may or may not qualify for a discount for automobile insurance purposes due to Department of Insurance rules. You should consult with your insurance carrier concerning this matter. 4. No behind the wheel instruction or practice may be permitted until the student has been issued a learner license. Driving without a valid license on a public street or highway is a violation of state law. Any behind the wheel instruction prior to issuance of the learner license will not be accepted toward the required instruction or practice time.