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Drivers Ed
Drivers Education Information

Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Driver and Vehicle Services
Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-296-6911
TTY 651-282-6555
http://www.dps.state.mn.us


To Home School Parents:
Effective August 1, 1999, the Minnesota legislature approved home school parents for teaching the classroom portion of driver education. In order for you to participate, the following requirements must be met:
  1. Your son or daughter must be at least 15 years of age.
  2. You must obtain a letter from the superintendent of schools in the district in which you live stating that your child is a full-time home school student.
  3. The classroom materials that you use must be approved by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Office. You also must comply with the Minnesota rules governing classroom instruction. Below is a summary of these rules and a list of pre-approved textbooks and other resources that you may use. If you wish to use classroom materials other than those on the list, you must contact the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Office for approval.
  4. When your child has completed the required 30 hours of classroom instruction, send a letter to this the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Office stating that the instruction has been completed, which text was used, your child’s full legal name (first, middle and last), and date of birth. Also, enclose the letter from the superintendent of schools.
  5. Upon receipt of your letter, tthe Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Office will send a proof of classroom completion document to you.  This is the document that you must present to the behind-the-wheel instruction provider in order for the student to be issued a Certificate of Enrollment, also called the “blue card.” The blue card is then brought to a state examining station along with a certified copy of the student’s birth certificate, at which time the student may take the written test. When the test is passed, application may be made for an instruction permit.
  6. Once the instruction permit has been obtained, the student must receive six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction from a licensed driver education instructor and 30 hours of supervised driving (ten of which must be at night) with an authorized licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age. After this practice driving, and after the permit has been possessed for at least six months with no moving violations, and the student is at least 16 years of age, they are eligible to take a road test and, when the test is passed, obtain their provisional driver’s license.


If you have any further questions, you may contact the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Office at the above address, phone number, or Internet address.



Summary of Minnesota Rules 7411.0540 for Classroom Drivers Education

A written classroom curriculum guide (textbook) must be used by an instructor conducting classroom instruction.

The instructor must be physically present with the student during classroom instruction to instruct as well as to address the questions and comments of the student.

A student must receive a minimum of 30 hours of classroom instruction, with no more that three hours of class per day.

The curriculum presented to the student must include at least the following:
  • Decision-making analysis and assessment.
  • Information on the effects of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs and nonprescription drugs on a person’s ability to drive.
  • Legal penalties and financial consequences of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Passenger restraint usage.
  • Roadway characteristics.
  • Vehicle speed under different driving conditions.
  • State traffic law (the Minnesota Driver’s Manual will suffice).
  • Vehicle ownership, leasing and maintenance.
  • Driver’s attitudes and emotions and their effect on safety.
  • Driver’s responsibility when around school buses.
  • Safety at railroad crossings.
  • The physics involving tires, traction and braking.
  • Operating vehicles with both conventional and antilock (ABS brake systems.



Approved Sources for Driver Education Textbooks

AAA Traffic Safety Department        (How to Drive)
100 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746-5063
612-707-4200 in Minnesota

Glencoe/McGraw-Hill                       (Responsible Driving, Tomorrows Drivers,
2122 Your Rd., Ste 130                      Building Safe Driving Skills)
Oak Brook, IL 60521
1-800-762-4876
www.glencoe.com

Propulsion International, Inc.               (Handbook Plus)
3500 Boul. Matte, Ste 214
Broussard, Quebec J4Y 2Z2
223-444-7001

Scott Foresman – Addison Wesley       (Drive Right)
1900 E Lake Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025-9882
1-800-552-2259

Thomson Learning,                             (License to Drive)
ITP Education Division
7625 Empire Drive
Florence, KY 41042
1-800-354-9706
www.licensetodrive.com

Indiana University – Bloomington       (Includes “Drive Right” textbook,        
(correspondence course)                          learning guide and videos)
School of Continuing Studies
Division of Extended Studies
Own Hall 001
Bloomington, IN 47405
1-800-457-4434

Keystone National High School           (Includes “Responsible Driving”,
(correspondence course)                             learning guide and video)
420 West 5th Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
717-784-5520