Georgia Driver Education Commission Awards Grants for Teen Driver Training

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

 

 

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that $2,184,600 in grants have been awarded to Georgia public high schools and libraries to make driver education more accessible, effective and affordable throughout the state. Public high school grantees will use these funds to create or enhance driver education programs in their schools.  Library grantees will purchase supplemental computer terminals to be dedicated to students who need access to virtual driver education programs.

“The busy travel days of summer remind us how important roadway safety is,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “These grants will make driver education more accessible to young Georgians and help limit the tragic accidents that tear at our hearts every year.”

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) administered the grant application and selection process.  A grant review committee established a point system for the evaluation. Those eligible to apply were Georgia Public Libraries and Georgia Public High Schools.  The grant review committee aimed to reach high school students – particularly underserved groups –that desire to prepare and qualify for a Georgia “Class D” driver’s license by meeting new teen driving requirements mandated under Joshua’s Law.

 

Library Awards

$270,800 was awarded to 16 Regional Library Systems and 14 County Library Systems. A total of 114 new computers will now be dedicated to teens that need access to approved online driver education programs.  A total of 30 applicants successfully applied and all will receive funding. The grant covers computers with stands, chairs and signage directing students to the terminals. This will improve high school students’ accessibility to the DDS licensed on-line driver education phase.  The recipients include:

 

Athens Regional Library System

Bartow County Public Library

Chattooga County Library System

Cherokee Regional Library System

Chestatee Regional Library System

Clayton County Public Library System

Coastal Plain Regional Library System

Dalton-Whitfield County Library

Desoto Trail Regional Library

Elbert County Library System

Fannin County Public Library

Hall County Library System

Jefferson County Library System

Kinchafoonee Regional Library System

Lee County Library

Middle Georgia Regional Library

Mountain Regional Library

Ocmulgee Regional Library System

Pine Mountain Regional Library System

Roddenberry Memorial Library

Satilla Regional Library System

Screven-Jenkin Regional Library System

Sequoyah Regional Library System

Statesboro Regional Library

Thomas County Public Library System

Towns County Public Library

Uncle Remus Regional Library System

Union County Pubic Library

 

Georgia Public High School Awards

This grant is to enhance an existing driver education program or to aid a start-up driver training program.  Recipients demonstrated that they are able to meet high school students’ learning needs by using DDS approved driver training methods. 17 schools were awarded funding totaling $1,913,800:

 

Banks County School System

Bleckley County Schools

Bryan County High School

Calhoun High School – Gordon County

DeKalb County School System

Early County Board of Education

Elbert County High School

Madison County High School

Marietta High School

Meriwether County School System

Thomasville City School – Thomas County

Tift County High School

Brantley County High School

Carroll County School System

Telfair County High School

Wayne County School System

Wilkinson County Schools

 

The Georgia Driver Education Commission was created by Senate Bill 226 to examine, evaluate and make recommendations for improvement concerning driver education and training policies and procedures.  The legislation mandates a five percent add-on fine to fund the expansion or creation of driver training programs throughout Georgia.  Funds began to accrue in May 2005, and will sunset June 30, 2008.  The law states that the General Assembly will appropriate prior year collections. 

The 2006 General Assembly appropriated $2.7 million for use in Fiscal Year 2007.  The Commission is committed to providing accessible, affordable, and effective methods of driver education. The Governor’s Budget Recommendation for 2008 included $2.7 million for the Georgia Driver Education Commission to continue its work.   All funding must be approved by the General Assembly.