Drivers Education

• This course is offered in tenth grade to all students.
• It is also offered in the summer, lasting 3 hours a day for a two week period. Depending upon the number of students interested it may be offered twice during the summer vacation. There is a fee if the theory course is taken during the summer.
• In order to qualify for the Drivers Education Certification Certificate students must complete a minimum of 30 classroom hours.

026 Driver Education--Theory 2 Dbl. Per./1 Semester .25 Credit Grade 10

The Driver Education program consists of both classroom and practice driving instruction. The classroom course, which is offered in the tenth grade, emphasizes sound principles of highway safety, students responsibility in the operation of a motor vehicle, and endeavors to show students the effect of physical, mental, and emotional traits on safety. This course includes presentations and discussions on defensive driving, alcohol and drugs, traffic laws and enforcement, driving attitudes, automobile insurance, vehicle maintenance, driver fitness, pedestrian safety, and basic and advanced driving techniques.

The Parkland High School Driver Education Program consists of both classroom theory and behind-the-wheel practice driving instruction. 

The classroom theory course emphasizes to our students the  sound principles of highway safety along with the responsibility in operating a motor vehicle. The theory course endeavors to show students the effect of physical, mental, and emotional traits on safety.  This course includes presentations and discussions on defensive driving, alcohol & drugs, traffic laws and enforcement, driving attitudes, automobile insurance, vehicle maintenance, driver fitness, pedestrian safety, and basic & advance driving techniques. 

The behind-the-wheel driver training instruction is considered an extension of the classroom.  It provides the beginning driver the opportunity to apply, practice, and be evaluated on the various skills needed for driving.  The instruction is given in a dual-control car, which has a brake pedal for the instructor's use as well as other special safety equipment.

Our goal in giving this course is to prepare competent, skillful, and responsible young drivers who will have the right attitude towards safe driving and will, therefore assist in reducing accidents on the streets and highways.

In November of 2011, within the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Bureau of Licensing informed the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 (CLIU 21) that before a driver’s test may be given, a student must first complete the classroom theory class before a CLIU driving instructor may issue the actual Behind the Wheel (BTW) driver’s licensing test.

Parkland realizes that some of our students engaged in the CLIU’s BTW program for the first semester may not be scheduled for the classroom theory course until second semester. If this is the case, you may inform your BTW instructor at the CLIU of this conflict, take the sixth BTW lesson with the CLIU to receive your BTW Certificate and take the driver’s test at the DMV with one of their driving examiners. The law maintains that a state examiner may issue the driver’s test to a student without the completion of the theory course but a driver’s education instructor may not.

Additionally, CLIU offers an online theory course for a fee. Please inquire at CLIU if interested in taking their online theory cours