Georgia Driver’s Education Commission Announces First Grantees

BACKGROUND: The Georgia Driver’s Education Commission (GDEC) was created on May 10, 2005, as a result of the passage of Joshua’s Law. The Georgia Driver’s Education Commission may recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly changes in state programs, statutes, policies, budgets and standards relating to the provision of driver education and training. Since its inception, the Commission has worked to identify options for teen drivers to satisfy the driver’s education program requirements mandated under state law.

This Grant Program was authorized on April 11, 2007. Listed below are the Georgia public high schools and public libraries which are the first recipients of the GDEC initiative to educate and train young beginning drivers as of June 28, 2007. Future awards of qualifying applicants are anticipated in the near future.

Georgia Public School Driver Training Program. Thirteen of fifty-six applicants achieved the highest scores as they attempt to implement the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)-approved driver training course for high school students who desire to qualify for a Georgia Class D driver’s license. The program is designed to facilitate knowledge and application of traffic safety rules, regulations, and procedures necessary for the safety of young licensed beginning drivers.

Georgia Public Library Driver Education Program: Georgia Public libraries listed below will enable driver education learning opportunities (DDS licensed online courses) for high school students by purchasing 2 computers with internet capabilities, prioritizing computer use for students, designating suitable learning locations, providing signage to the assigned locations, maintaining technical support for the equipment, announcing the program to the community, and keeping a record of computer use for driver education purposes.

Banks County School System
Bleckley County Schools
Bryan County High School
Early County Board of Education
Meriwether County School System
Marietta High School
Thomasville City School-Thomas County
Tift County High School
Brantley County High School
Carroll County School System
Wilkinson County Schools
Telfair County High School
Dekalb County School System
Bartow County Public Library
Chattooga County Library System
Cherokee Regional Library System
Chestatee Regional Library System
Coastal Plain Regional Library
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
Ocmulge Regional Library System
Pine Mountain Regional Library System
Roddenbery Memorial Library
Satilla Regional Library
Sequoyah Regional Library System
Statesboro Regional Library System
Thomas County Public Library System
Towns County Public Library
Uncle Remus Regional Library System
Union County Public Library
Clayton County Public Library
Screven-Jenkin Regional Library
Athens Regional Library System