The mission of driver education in Wisconsin high schools is to provide students with the skills to drive safely. Driver and safety education is based on the belief that this is a critical lifelong skill affecting the conservation and quality of human health and life. In order to accomplish its mission, driver and safety education programs focus on providing learning opportunities for the development of the skills, knowledge, and thought processes necessary to become a safe and efficient driver, and a responsible user of the Highway Transportation System (HTS).
Southwest Tech's Driver Education Program will prepare students with at least minimal capabilities for entry into the highway traffic system as vehicle operators, equip students with the knowledge and thought processes to enable them to make wise decisions as drivers and help students acquire the insight and motivation needed to become responsible users of the Highway Transportation System.
Southwest Tech offers both traditional and online driver education to students within our district and throughout the state, as well as behind-the-wheel instruction for our district high schools.
- Program Guide
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Driver Education: Step-by-Step Guide
If your child is 14 years old or older, you may be wondering what comes next on the path to getting a driver’s license. This guide walks you through each step in a clear and simple way.
Step 1: Enroll in a Driver Education Theory Course (Classroom)
The first step is completing an approved Driver Education Theory Course, often called the classroom portion.
- SWTC requires students be 14 years of age or older, the closer to 15 years of age the better
- Use a specific school registration link if you want to register for a Face-to-Face class.
- Face-to-Face classes are held during the summer
- Each school district has an informational sheet, or reach out to driversed@swtc.edu
- Online theory courses can be found directly on the website.
- Run every 8 weeks
Step 2: Complete the Theory Course
After finishing the course:
- Students will receive a completion certificate (especially for outside SWTC online courses)
- This certificate must be emailed to: driversed@swtc.edu
- The student cannot move forward with the BTW course until this certificate is on file
- If a student took the theory course with SWTC, they will not receive a completion certificate
- All of their completion information is already on file
Step 3: Enroll in Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) Training
Once the theory course is complete:
- Enroll in a Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) course
- School Specific private link provided from SWTC
- Cannot be found on the website: email driversed@swtc.edu for the link
- After enrollment, students will receive the MV-3001 permit application form
Step 4: Get Your Instruction Permit
Students can go to the DMV at age 15 or older.
What to bring to the DMV:
- Permit Application - MV3001
- Birth Certificate or Passport
- Social Security Card
- For Real ID compliance: Mail or school information with students Name and Address on it.
At the DMV:
- Students may need to take:
- Road Signs Test (must score 12/15)
- Knowledge Test (must score 40/50)
- Some Districts include signs and knowledge tests in the classroom course
- If included, student will not need to take the tests as the DMV
Once passed, the student will receive their instruction permit and can begin driving.
Step 5: Start Driving Practice
After receiving the permit:
- Schedule BTW Lessons
- Contact your instructor to begin Behind-the-Wheel lessons
- Complete Required Practice Hours
- 50 total hours of supervised driving
- 10 hours must be at night
- Who Can Supervise Driving?
A supervising adult must be:
- A qualified instructor (19+), OR
- A parent, guardian, or spouse (19+), OR
- A licensed adult age 21+
Important:
- If the driver is under 18 and the supervising adult is not a parent/guardian, they must have written permission from a parent or guardian
- Immediate family members may ride in the back seat
Step 6: Take the Road Test
Students are eligible to take the road test when:
- They have held their permit for at least 6 months, AND
- Completed all Behind-the-Wheel lessons, AND
- Are at least 16 years old
Scheduling Your Road Test
- Students may schedule their road test up to 11 weeks before their 16th birthday
- If the student is already 16, they may schedule their test once they have held their permit for 6 months
- Schedule here: WI Road Test
Additional Details:
- Road test fee: $15
- Passing the test earns the student their driver’s license
Wisconsin Driver’s Ed Grant (Act 86)
This grant covers the cost of all driver education program fees.
Grant opens to apply quarterly: January, April, July, October
Eligible Students:
- Ages 14-19
- Must be eligible for or receiving free/reduced lunch
How to Apply:
- Apply online at the provided link: WI Drivers Ed Grant Program
- Receive a confirmation email with “coupon” codes for the course(s)
- Forward email from DOT with the coupon code(s) with your licensed driving school
- Student will also enter the coupon code during registration. Student cannot be registered without the coupon code
Quick Timeline Overview
- Age 14 → Start classroom course
- Complete course → Submit certificate if completed online to driversed@swtc.edu
- Enroll in BTW → Receive permit application
- Age 15 → Get instruction permit
- Practice driving → 50 hours + BTW lessons
- Age 16 and have had permit for 6 months → Take road test
- Face-To-Face Driver Ed Theory
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REGISTERING FOR DRIVER EDUCATION FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES (SUMMER REGISTRATION)
You must be 14 years of age or older and enrolled as a student or live within the district of this high school if home-schooled.
Please use the student’s personal email while registering and stay away from using Chromebooks.
You will need to click on a link to access the schools’ face-to-face classes. These are obtained in the summer school letters. If you do not have the letters, you can email driversed@swtc.edu.
Parents of home-schooled students, please contact your district high school for confirmation of class dates and times, and any cancellations or schedule changes.
Register Now - Online Option
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REGISTERING FOR ONLINE DRIVERS’ EDUCATION
You must be 14 years of age or older to enroll in Drivers Education.
Please use the student’s personal email while registering and stay away from using Chromebooks.
- Click register now at the bottom
- Select theory class and add it to your cart
- Complete the driver education contact information form
- View cart/checkout in the upper right of screen
- Follow the instructions and agree to the policies and checkout to finish registration
- Pay the driver education theory class fee
- Receive a registration confirmation email
You will be using Schoology for the online course. Click here to see how to get into Schoology.
Register Now - Behind-the-Wheel
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Registering for behind-the-wheel instruction
Students will receive their permit application from their instructor after registration and payment of behind-the-wheel fees. Students should register for the course offered at the high school they attend or district they currently reside if home-schooled.
Here are the 9 steps to register:
- To register for BTW click on the school’s link. If you need the link, you can contact you BTW instructor or email driversed@swtc.edu
- Click “Add to Cart”
- Create a profile or sign in to your SWTC account
- Fill out additional Information for drivers education and click submit (Use students email)
- Click “Checkout” in the upper right corner of your screen
- Once you have read the policies, check the “Agree to Policies” box
- Click “Checkout”
- Enter your payment information and click “Pay Now”
- You will see a receipt of your transaction and receive an email confirmation
- For Adults (over 18)
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REGISTERING FOR ADULT BEHIND-THE-WHEEL INSTRUCTION
You must be over the age of 18 and live within the Southwest Tech district high schools we service. This class gets you three hours of driving with a licensed instructor to help pass the driving exam at the DMV
Register Now
