Hearing discusses ways to improve transparency in both public, private drivers education programs

Chicago, IL- State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) led a Senate Education Committee hearing earlier this week discussing oversight of both public and private drivers education programs.  The subject matter hearing was held at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago and featured testimony from the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office and the Illinois State Board of Education.

"Illinois students, whether they are enrolled in a public high school drivers education program or in a private driving school, should be taught by the same standards and with the same consistency," Garrett said.  "Any disparity in the quality of instruction should be looked into and corrected." 

Among the topics discussed at the hearing included safety standards for drivers education vehicles.  The discussion followed a recently released Chicago Tribune article highlighting the variation among districts when it comes to the age and safety of vehicles that are used for driving instruction.  The report highlighted that Illinois only mandates instruction vehicles pass Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations, which all new vehicles must pass in order to be sold.  

"This hearing is a first step in determining what areas of the drivers education program require additional transparency and oversight," Garrett continued.  "It is my hope that both public and private drivers education stakeholders can agree on common sense reforms that will ensure the safety of all Illinois students."

Additional topics covered at the hearing included price disparities between many public school drivers education programs in which some districts are receiving waivers to charge more than the maximum fee of $250 set by the Illinois State Board of Education.  Also discussed were the differing training requirements for instructors between public and private driving programs.