Stalled driver’s ed courses pick up the pace

While behind-the-wheel instruction for driver’s education students has stalled in light of COVID-19, some school districts have set up optional driving range courses for student drivers.

Indian River School District spokesperson David Maull said the Delaware Department of Education approved the driving ranges, in which student drivers must be chaperoned by a parent. Indian River created driving ranges at Sussex Central High for students who attend the two district high schools, Sussex Central and Indian River.

“We hope to resume more traditional in-person driving once Gov. Carney implements Phase 3 of the reopening plan,” Maull said. “If this happens in the next few weeks, we will provide instruction during the summer months.”

Indian River School District Supervisor of Alternative Programs Walter Smith said every two hours a student completes on the driving range counts as one hour of behind-the-wheel time.

“A student is only allowed to receive three hours of actual time behind the wheel toward their seven hours needed by code requirements,” Smith added. 

At Sussex Tech, students can complete one of the seven required driving hours at an optional closed driving course on campus, district spokesperson Dan Shortridge said. 

Students drive the course using a family vehicle with a parent or guardian in the car while a teacher outside the car supervises, he said. Shortridge said students will complete the final six hours with a teacher in the car when permitted.

“We are committed to helping our students complete the license requirements as safely and quickly as possible in compliance with all state rules,” Shortridge said.

Sussex Academy spokesperson Gina Derrickson said students have been driving in the school parking lot.  

Cape High Principal Nikki Miller said the school is not offering in-car instruction at this time.

“We realize that students and families are interested in finding out when the in-car phase of driver education will resume,” Miller said. “We understand the importance of helping our students reach this important milestone and will work to get this done when we can do so safely.”

In order to resume in-car instruction, Miller said, the governor must approve Phase 3 of reopening and the Delaware Department of Education and Division of Public Health must issue guidelines regarding required PPE for students and staff. Miller said once those components are in place, in-car instruction may resume and students who were in driver’s education the third marking period of the 2019-20 school year will be contacted.

“When it does resume, Cape will follow the CDC’s guidance for cleaning and disinfecting the vehicles in order to minimize the risk of exposure for our students and staff,” Miller said.