Driver Education Information 

Partners for Safe Teen Driving

The state of Virginia requires all 10th-grade students and their parent/guardian to attend a 90-minute traffic safety program as part of the classroom driver education instruction. This requirement must be met before a student will receive a Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DEC-1 card). 

The dates for the program offered in the auditorium at George C. Marshall High School can be found in the Events calendar.

If you are unable to attend at this time, additional program dates and locations can be found on the Fairfax County Public Schools website.

You are strongly encouraged to mark your calendar now and plan to attend. You may attend any session -- preferably before or during the quarter your child has their classroom driver education instruction. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Butterworth.

Please be aware of the following procedures that have been established to fulfill the requirements of the new law:

• Students must attend with their parent/guardian.
• Parent/guardian is required to show valid driver’s license or state-issued identification number.
• Attendance for FULL 90 minutes is required.
• Proper completion of the registration form required (received at the session).
• The Program must be completed during the year student is enrolled in Grade 10 Health and Physical Education (HPE).
• No fees are charged to FCPS students currently enrolled in Grade 10 HPE.

This is a requirement for current FCPS 10th-12th grade students. Most 11th and 12th-grade students went to this last year and do not need to go again. 11th-grade students that did not see it last year need to sign up in advance to attend. 

Requirements for students to obtain a driver’s license in Virginia: 

• Obtain a learner's permit at a local DMV office once you are at least 15 years and 6 months old. The student will be required to pass the sign, Knowledge and Vision test. This can be done at any time after they are 15 years and 6 months old.
• Pass a state-approved classroom driver's education program. Classroom Driver Education is the first of two courses required for legal state licensing for anyone under the age of 19 and is part of the 10th-grade Health and Physical Education requirement.

Attend a 90-minute Partners for Safe Teen Driver class with a parent/guardian: 

• If the student passes the classroom portion and attended the 90-minute partners for safe teen driving they will receive a “Driver Education Certificate of Completion” (DEC-1 card) from their classroom instructor and receive a “P” for pass on their final grade in  Driver Education.
• If a student did not attend the Partners for safe teen driving they will receive an “I” for incomplete on their final Driver Education grade and will not receive their (DEC-1) card, until they Attend a 90 minute partners for safe teen driving program once they attend the final grade will be changed to a “P” for pass if they did pass the class.
• Download the registration form.   
• Learn more about the Partners for Safe Teen Driving program.

Behind the Wheel 

The Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DEC 1 card) is needed to take behind the wheel.

The second portion of Driver Education (Behind the Wheel) can be taken privately or through https://aceclasses.fcps.edu. 

• Behind the wheel will consist of 7 classes of 2 hours each
• A Log of 45 hours of driving practice with a parent or guardian. 5 hours must be at night.
• The student must hold a learner's permit for at least nine months.
• At the end of behind the wheel student drivers will be given the driver road test if the student passes the behind the wheel test and has completed all of the above requirement they will be given a provisional license. If they have not completed all the requirements the provisional license will be held until requirements are completed.
• Once students receive their provisional license they will be contacted by Fairfax county courts within 180 days to attend the licensing ceremony to receive their permanent license a parent/guardian also must attend.