Drivers Ed

Argo Community High School has approximately 9 weeks of driver education classroom.  The state requires 30 hours of classroom instruction.  During this class, students will learn rules of the road along with safe driving strategies.  Most students will receive their permits at the end of the 9 week course, usually the last day of classroom.   In order for them to receive their permits they must:

1. Pass the vision test with 20/40 visual acuity
2. Bring in a $20.00 check or money order made out to the Secretary of State for the state permit fee.
3. Pass the written Illinois Rules of the Road Exam with an 80 % or better
4. Pass the class

Behind the wheel consist of 6 hours of instruction with a driver ed instructor. The Behind the Wheel Phase (BTW) is the ultimate driving experience that incorporates information from the classroom. It is in this phase that students must learn to continuously identify problem situations and successfully solve them in real world driving. Students are evaluated on a lesson by lesson basis based on how well they are able to perform the specific tasks of each lesson. They will only move on to the next lesson when the instructors feel that they have mastered the previous skills. It is at this point that the parents or “driving coach” are expected to enhance student learning by practicing skills as they are learned for homework.

The instructors recommend that every student complete one (1) to two (2) hours of driving time each week outside of school. This will help with the student’s progress. Students may be withdraw/failure due to absences. 

Illinois State Law requires that anyone enrolled in a state-certified course has to receive at least 30 hours of classroom instruction. With the layout of our course, that would equal to no more than 5 absences.

If your son or daughter received an A or B in as a classroom grade and an A or B in the BTW phase, he or she may be eligible for the cooperative driving waiver from Argo Community High School.  

If the student qualifies, they will take the Road Test with the driver ed instructor on the last day of behind the wheel. If the student passes that test, they will receive a blue “waiver” from the instructor that he or she will take with them to the DMV.  If they are not a spot check date, they can bypass the road test at the DMV and just present proper paper work. 

The GDL (Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing Program) law has evolved and changed the way students are licensed.  The major difference being 50 hours of practice driving, 10 of which must be at night. This law is not to penalize students or overburden parents, but to provide much needed guidance to inexperienced drivers from expert drivers like you. As a parent, this provides additional opportunities for you to become aware of your son/ daughter's ability levels.  Additional information can be found at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

After receiving your permit and passing the classroom.  Each student must pay the Driver Ed fee of $150.00.  After this fee is paid each student must SIGN UP (instructions to the right) to take the behind the wheel portion. 

PLEASE NOTE: Just paying the $150.00 does not sign you up for BTW class, you must follow the instructions to the left to sign up for the BTW class.

Going to a DMV for your Driver's License

Please remember to click on this link prior to going to the DMV to ensure that you are eligible to receive your license. If you are not eligible, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Did I pass Classroom AND Behind the Wheel (BTW)?
2. Has it been NINE (9) months since my permit was issued? (Issue date is on the top right of your permit. Add 9 months to that date.)
3. Am I at least 16 years of age.

If you answered “NO” to any one of those questions you are not entitled to receive your Driver’s License. You will not be cleared until you resolve any issue with the above 3 questions. If you have any problems or questions feel free to email the Driver Education Department at: Russ Nowak rnowak@argohs.net

Now that your son or daughter has his or her permit, you play a major role in developing him or her into a safe driver.  

A successful driver education experience is a cooperative partnership of student, parents/guardians, and instructors.  You can assist by becoming involved in your teenager’s driving experience.  Talk about and support the program, provide 1-2 hours of at home practice your student each week, and encourage your son/daughter to develop the skills, attitudes, and habits that will make him/her a low risk driver.  You are not expected to replace the Driver Ed instructor, but rather support, encourage, supplement, and assist in developing a low risk driver.