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Drivers Ed Information

Driver Education classes are offered several times throughout the year at each high school.

Ninth grade students are invited to a driver education class based on their birthday with older students being invited first. A few weeks before their 15th birthday, students need to begin checking their Burke County Public Schools email for information about an upcoming driver education class. Students may join the class via the link in the email that is sent to them or they need to let Mrs. McNabb, the driver education coordinator, know that they need to take a different class. Upper class (10th, 11th, or 12th grade) students must contact Mrs. McNabb about being added to a class.

Students need to make sure that they can attend ALL ten classes before joining the class.

Students must PREPAY the $65 driver education fee for the class. 
A deadline for the payment will be included in the information email.

The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable (to another county).
There will be no refunds given for students who take a seat in class and dropout or fail. Attendance, behavior, and academic failures are all considered forfeits of the classroom fee. Should the student be allowed to retake the classroom portion, the fee must be paid again.
Cash is preferred (a receipt will be given to the student), but if the fee is paid by check, then the check needs to be made out to the high school where the driver education class is taken.

Each student is required to complete 30 hours of classroom instruction before completing 6 hours of driving instruction.  In order to enroll in a class, the student must be 14 1/2 years of age by the first day of class.

Once the student has completed the classroom portion and passed a final exam, then they will be scheduled to complete the six hours of required driving, beginning with the oldest students working down to the youngest in that class.

  • Attendance is mandatory. You must be present on the first day of class. 
  • Students should be present for EVERY class
  • Classes will meet after school from 3:00-6:00 for ten days. 
  • Please consider extracurricular activities when you are invited to take a class. (You must let me know if you cannot attend the class.) 
  • Inappropriate behavior will result in the loss of your opportunity to take this class. 
  • A student cannot miss more than 3 hours of class time. (Students should attend every class) 
  • ANY time missed must be made up. The instructor will let you know about making up time.
  • If a student misses more than 3 hours of class time, then the student will be dropped from the class. Students should be present for EVERY class
  • School dropouts are not allowed to enroll.

The state of North Carolina requires that a student attends 30 hours of classroom training and 6 hours of behind the wheel training in order to apply at a NCDMV driver license office for a NC graduated license. 
CLASS SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. If class is canceled for any reason, the schedule will be extended as needed to reflect the number of days missed. This includes, but is not limited to weather related issues. 

For questions call or text Tammy McNabb, driver education coordinator at 828-502-0984

Five things you will need to take to the DMV to get your permit

  • Driver Education Certificate - Given to the student by their driver instructor upon successful completion of Driver Education and payment of the driver education fee ($65.00). 
  • Eligibility Certificate - In order to obtain and keep a permit and/or license the student must show adequate progress in academic courses. 
  • Birth Certificate 
  • Social Security Card- Social Security card cannot be laminated 
  • Proof of Residence - 2 documents showing your name and 911 address (school transcript, a stamped envelope of a letter addressed to you, medical or hospital records showing the address, a magazine subscription, hunting or fishing license, tax records listing the minor as a dependent) 

Summary of the North Carolina Graduated Drivers Licenses

Limited Learner’s Permit

A person at least age 15 and under age 18 may obtain a limited learner's permit if the person has passed a driver education course and a written test administered by the DMV.

LEVEL 1 
Limited Learner’s Permit involves parents, guardians, and/or other responsible drivers in the training of young drivers: 
● Must be 15 or older, complete driver’s education and obtain limited learner’s permit. 
● For at least 12 months, the Level 1 driver must be supervised by parent, guardian or other approved licensed driver who has been licensed for at least 5 years. 
● All people in vehicle driven by Level 1 driver must wear a seat belt and only the supervisor can ride in the front seat. 
● For the first six months, a Level 1 driver may only drive from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM with his/her supervisor. 
● For the second six months, a Level 1 driver may drive at any time with his/her supervisor. 
● Use of mobile devices PROHIBITED 
● The level 1 driver must have no violations during the last six months to graduate to the next level.

 

Limited Provisional License

A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 may obtain a limited provisional license: if the person has held a limited learner's permit for at least 12 months, has not been convicted of a motor vehicle moving violation or seatbelt/mobile phone infraction during the preceding six months and has passed a road test administered by the DMV.

 
LEVEL 2 
Limited Provisional License protects young drivers during the nighttime hours when they are most at risk: 
● Unsupervised driving is allowed between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM or when driving to or from work. 
● Unsupervised driving is allowed to or from an activity of a volunteer fire department, volunteer rescue squad, or volunteer emergency medical service if the driver is a member of the organization. 
● Supervised driving is allowed at any time. 
● All people in a vehicle driven by a Level 2 driver must wear a seat belt. 
● Completed and logged at least 60 hours of driving 
Driving Log- https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/downloads/Documents/DL-4A.pdf 
● The Level 2 driver must have six months of violation-free driving to graduate to the next level. 
● Use of mobile devices PROHIBITED 

 

Full Provisional License

 
A person who is at least 16 but less than 18 may obtain a full provisional license if the person 
● has held a limited provisional license for at least six months and 
● has not been convicted of a motor vehicle moving violation or seatbelt/mobile phone infraction during the preceding six months. 

LEVEL 3 
Full Provisional License rewards violation-free driving: 
● Unsupervised driving is allowed at any time. 
● Completed and logged at least 12 hours of driving 
Driving Log- https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/downloads/Documents/DL-4B.pdf 
● Level 3 driver is subject to all other conditions of provisional license. 
● Use of mobile devices PROHIBITED


Students must pass three tests to obtain their learner’s permit: written knowledge, traffic signs, and vision . Driving skills are ONLY tested when getting a driver’s license NOT a learner’s permit