Shifting Into Home Schooling Driver’s Ed

As home schooling has grown, more people face the problems defined by special course work. The most obvious is home schooling driver’s ed. Many people don't think about the impending situation until there is a teenager in the house looking longingly at the family ride. Here are some pointers for those seeking the open road.

Home Schooling Driver’s Ed Can Be Tricky

Driver’s education is an important part of a teenager’s education and life. Driving is one of the first independent acts of the young adult, and in many states, it can be delayed by years without an approved driver’s ed program. Even in states without this penalty, the insurance for teens can be prohibitive without the discounts that driver’s ed training earns.

The problem comes in finding a home schooling driver’s ed program. Much depends on the requirements of the state in which the family resides. Home schooling driver’s ed programs must meet the same requirements that certified programs adhere to. Without the financial backing the most schools can invest, this can be difficult. In the schools, whether part of the public school system, or private driving instructors, there is a lot more funding for the special equipment needed for instructors, such as books, or even modifications to the auto. Really specialist items like simulators can even be out of the reach of some schools for the home schooling driver’s ed environment, they are completely out of the question.

So just where is the parent and teen supposed to look within the home schooled environment? Much is determined again by geography, such as the requirements of the state, and available services. In many areas the public school system is opening up their programs to home schooling families. In other areas there are private instruction schools that can fill the gap. Yet for many this doesn't qualify as home schooling driver’s ed since the independence of the home school environment is key. Going to the very systems that made the home schooling necessary can be difficult for many families that have made the home school choice. For these families, the only possible choice is in working within the guidelines of their state, and doing it themselves.

In the end, the factors that influence the decision to take on a home schooling driver’s ed program are the same as the ones that lead to the original home schooling choice, a combination of balancing the needs of their children against the price of private instruction.