ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (KWQC) – Courses that have been in the curriculum for years are facing potential cuts. Illinois schools currently abide by more than 100 mandates, but Gov. Bruce Rauner is calling to get rid of some of them, including drivers ed and physical education. Some superintendents say the more mandates are reduced, the more schools have the flexibility to make financial decisions. However, some parents say if schools stop offering drivers ed, they’ll be taking their teens to private driving schools and that could mean families will be making their own kind of budget cuts.
“A lot of people won’t get the opportunity to get their license and learn how to drive,” student Jaida Briggs said.
“I just think it’s ridiculous that they want to get rid of drivers ed because you know how are kids going to learn how to drive,” Tina Harris, a parent, said.
Private companies are an option, but some parents, like Roxanne Griffin, say those courses can cost hundreds of dollars more than what is offered through school.
“The governor needs to check himself,” Griffin said. “If he wants to pay for it, fine, go ahead get rid of it. He could pay for her license, he could pay for graduation. Hey, I even think he should pay for college.”
Meanwhile, in Iowa, drivers ed hasn’t been part of the curriculum for years. So, out of his home in Eldridge, Rick Sharp teaches students from several different cities how to drive.
“I’ve been in business for 15 years,” he said.
He says, at one point, certain Iowa school districts paid up to $1,000 per student to offer drivers ed, covering the cost of the instructor salaries, vehicles, and insurance.
“And because of that the cost is just so high they were able to not have it in the schools anymore and have private companies do a majority of it in the state,” Sharp said.
Sharp says he believes if Illinois follows suit, schools would save money, and private driving schools would profit.
“There is a real opportunity to start a business like that,” he said.
Still, he can understand why families are concerned.
“When I had to pay for my kids to take drivers ed, I was like, boy that’s a lot of money for my kids to take drivers ed,” he said.
Currently, Illinois school districts that can’t or don’t want to follow certain mandates may apply for a waiver.
“A lot of people won’t get the opportunity to get their license and learn how to drive,” student Jaida Briggs said.
“I just think it’s ridiculous that they want to get rid of drivers ed because you know how are kids going to learn how to drive,” Tina Harris, a parent, said.
Private companies are an option, but some parents, like Roxanne Griffin, say those courses can cost hundreds of dollars more than what is offered through school.
“The governor needs to check himself,” Griffin said. “If he wants to pay for it, fine, go ahead get rid of it. He could pay for her license, he could pay for graduation. Hey, I even think he should pay for college.”
Meanwhile, in Iowa, drivers ed hasn’t been part of the curriculum for years. So, out of his home in Eldridge, Rick Sharp teaches students from several different cities how to drive.
“I’ve been in business for 15 years,” he said.
He says, at one point, certain Iowa school districts paid up to $1,000 per student to offer drivers ed, covering the cost of the instructor salaries, vehicles, and insurance.
“And because of that the cost is just so high they were able to not have it in the schools anymore and have private companies do a majority of it in the state,” Sharp said.
Sharp says he believes if Illinois follows suit, schools would save money, and private driving schools would profit.
“There is a real opportunity to start a business like that,” he said.
Still, he can understand why families are concerned.
“When I had to pay for my kids to take drivers ed, I was like, boy that’s a lot of money for my kids to take drivers ed,” he said.
Currently, Illinois school districts that can’t or don’t want to follow certain mandates may apply for a waiver.
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