Georgia Driver Education Commission Awards Grants for Teen Driver Training
| Thursday, July 12, 2007 |
Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774
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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.