Toledo Public Schools officials have the green light to implement its free after-school driver’s training program now that Ohio Gov. DeWine’s office has awarded the district a $45,000 grant for the initiative.
The governor’s office announced Thursday that 25 schools received $575,000 as part of the Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program that seeks to expand access to teen driver training for low-income Ohio families.
“Teen driver training courses can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 or more, which can be a huge barrier for some families,” Gov. DeWine said in a news release. “By increasing accessibility to this important training for teenage drivers, we can better ensure their safety, the safety of their passengers, and the safety of others on the road.”
TPS officials said last month they applied for $45,000 to cover two years worth of the after school training cost for an estimated 50 students each semester through a partnership with Master and Sylvania Driving School, which has four locations in the Toledo area.
Through the TPS program, students will have to apply each fall and spring for a chance to have the district pay the $420 cost for the necessary classes and behind-the-wheel training. As part of their application, students will also have to maintain a 2.0 grade point average, submit two letters of recommendation. They will also have to write an essay detailing why they need assistance, their plans to acquire a car, and how vehicle insurance would be paid.
First Published March 16, 2023, 6:29 p.m.
