§ 20-88.1. Driver education. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 20‑88.1.  Drivereducation.

(a)        In accordance withcriteria and standards approved by the State Board of Education, the StateSuperintendent of Public Instruction shall organize and administer a program ofdriver education to be offered at the public high schools of this State for allphysically and mentally qualified persons who (i) are older than 14 years andsix months, (ii) are approved by the principal of the school, pursuant to rulesadopted by the State Board of Education, (iii) are enrolled in a public orprivate high school within the State, and (iv) have not previously enrolled inthe program. The State Board of Education shall use for such purpose all fundsappropriated to it for said purpose, and may use all other funds that becomeavailable for its use for said purpose.

The driver education programestablished pursuant to this section must include the following:

(1)        Instruction on therights and privileges of the handicapped and the signs and symbols used toassist the handicapped relative to motor vehicles, including the"international symbol of accessibility" and other symbols and devicesas provided in Article 2A of this Chapter.

(2)        At least six hoursof instruction on the offense of driving while impaired and related subjects.

(3)        At least six hoursof actual driving experience. To the extent practicable, this experience mayinclude at least one hour of instruction on the techniques of defensivedriving.

(b)        The State Board ofEducation shall adopt a salary range for driver education instructors who arepublic school employees and who do not hold teacher certificates.

Driver education instructorswho are public school employees and who hold teacher certificates shall be paidon the teacher salary schedule. A day of employment for driver educationinstructors who hold teacher certificates shall be the same number of hoursrequired of all regular classroom teachers as established by the local board ofeducation.

(b1)      The State Board ofEducation shall adopt rules to permit local boards of education to entercontracts with public or private entities to provide a program of drivereducation at public high schools. All driver education instructors shall meetthe requirements established by the State Board of Education; provided,however, driver education instructors shall not be required to hold teachercertificates.

(c)        All expensesincurred by the State in carrying out the provisions of this section shall bepaid out of the Highway Fund.

(d)        The Division shallprepare a driver license handbook that explains the traffic laws of the Stateand shall periodically revise the handbook to reflect changes in these laws. Atthe request of the Department of Education, the Division shall provide freecopies of the handbook to that Department for use in the program of drivereducation offered at public high schools. (1957, c. 682, s. 1; 1965, c.410, s. 1; 1975, c. 431; c. 716, s. 5; 1977, c. 340, s. 4; c. 1002; 1983, c.761, s. 141; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 982, s. 25; 1991, c. 689, s. 32(a);1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 761, s. 7; 1997‑16, s. 3; 1997‑443, s.32.20.)