Senators want reforms in Illinois driver education

State policy on driver education for teens needs to be overhauled so parents pay fair prices at public schools and private companies provide well-qualified instructors, Illinois senators said at a Tuesday hearing.

The number of Illinois teens enrolled in public school driver education classes has decreased by 40 percent since 1978, while state funding has grown to the current level of about $19 million, Sen. Susan Garrett said.

Meanwhile some school districts charge up to $700 for classes, far more than the average at private companies, Garrett said. Costs of public school lessons are not supposed to exceed $250, but many districts receive waivers from the Illinois State Board of Education.

“We're hearing from parents that the cost of drivers education is more than they can afford,” said Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat.

Senators also asked that school districts provide budget details of their driver education programs, a practice discontinued several years ago. “If there's checks and balances for the school districts, they may feel more accountable,” said Sen. Kimberly Lightford, who represents the near Western suburbs.

Garrett said, “If we're asking parents to pay more and taxpayers to contribute, we ought to know what's going on.

However, Illinois State Board of Education aid administrator Tim Imler noted that his department had only one person dedicated to driver education, so extra duties could be problematic.

Senators said the staffing was something that could be worked out.

“This a serious problem,” Sen. Iris Martinez said. “At the end of the day, it's about students and we want to be sure they get proper drivers education.”

Testimony from experts also indicated that instructors with commercial companies offering driving classes to teenagers don't have as much experience as their public school counterparts. There also were complaints that there's no standardized curriculum across the state.

Illinois State Police Lt. Darrin Clark said he's pulled over teenage drivers who aren't fully versed in the rules of the road.

“I recently stopped a young man who had no idea why I pulled him over,” Clark said. “We as a state need to do a better job (teaching teens how to drive).”

While Garrett was concerned about minimal standards for private driving instructors, Secretary of State attorney Brenda Glahn said data does not indicate a higher rate of crashes for teens taught by teachers with commercial firms versus public school instructors.

One suburban educator asked senators to tweak legislation to allow schools to offer behind-the-wheel lessons on Saturdays and in summer. “We could run more students through the program and expand sections at a lower rate,” Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Superintendent David Schuler said.

He also asked senators to change policy so districts could participate in state vehicle purchase and lease programs to save money.