Drivers Ed

(We found some of this from other MN homeschool websites)

The process for getting your homeschooled teen through driver’s education can be a little confusing, but once you know the steps and what resources are available, it isn’t very difficult.

Here are the steps and sequence you’ll need to follow for your teen driver-to-be:

1. Anytime after your Minnesota teen has turned 14, they can enroll and complete the book portion of driver’s education. Full-time homeschool students are able to complete a Minnesota-approved book course at home with a parent as the instructor.
2. If you prefer not to supervise the book course, there are options for outsourcing. Some school districts may offer the option to enroll in their driver’s ed program. Also, some driving schools offer book classes in addition to behind-the-wheel instruction.

   At this time, Minnesota does not allow students to complete a purely online course for driver’s ed. Some driving schools, however, do offer the book portion online with a live teacher teaching one of the approved book courses via a virtual classroom, which is acceptable. When in doubt, check with the MN DVS before enrolling your student. Contact your school district or local driving school for more information.

3. Upon completion of the book course, you must submit the Home School Driver’s Education Affidavit to the Minnesota Office of Driver Education. You will receive a proof-of-classroom completion document back from the state that you will need in order to complete the next step.
4. Next, you’ll need to decide which behind-the-wheel company you’d like to use. In order to sign up for the required behind-the-wheel instruction, you’ll need to deliver your completion document to the company. Once they receive that, they’ll supply you with a Certificate of Enrollment (also called “blue card”), which is needed to take the written exam.
5. Once your learner is 15 and has completed the above steps, they are eligible to take the written knowledge exam. They must bring their blue card, plus documents to meet the identification requirements (for example, a birth certificate and/or a passport, plus a social security card) to the Departmentt of Vehicle Services (DVS)  testing center. The test is taken on a computer and, if the student passes the exam, they will have their photo taken and fill out the forms to receive their temporary license.
6. The minimum behind-the-wheel portion of driver’s ed consists of three 2-hour sessions with a professional driving instructor, plus no less than 30 additional hours of supervised driving with a licensed driver over the age of 21 (at least 10 hours must be at night.) The behind-the-wheel sessions are usually spread out over the course of the student’s 30 hours of supervised driving.
7. Once the student reaches the age of 16, has held their temporary permit for at least six months, and completes the behind-the-wheel sessions and minimum 30 hours of additional driving, they are eligible to take the driving exam. An appointment is required for testing.