• Applying to Driver's Education at Cary High School

    Fall 2023 Information

    DRIVER ED. UPDATES 

    Driver’s Ed Classroom: (October 20 Update)

     

    Fall Registration information: 

    Registration for Fall sessions is closed. All classes are full.  There are no waiting lists.

    Spring registration times and class dates will be announced in December.  Please monitor this space and www.jordandriving.com for more info.

    How to register:  Registration for Driver’s Ed is available for for all Cary High students that are above 14.5 years of age as of the first day of class.  All registration must be done and paid for online during the registration window.  Paper forms will not be accepted. Registration is first come first served.  No preference is given based on age.  Seats fill quickly.  There are no waiting lists.  Students can only attend driver's ed classes at their base school.

     

     

    Behind-the-Wheel (BTW): (October 20 update)

    • Drivers are contacting the students who took the JUNE 2023 classroom session currently. If you screen your calls, please realize that you might miss a call.   
    • The first June class will be next.  The oldest students from the June session will likely be sent to drivers at the end of November.  Students who took classes this summer can expect a 6 month wait between class ending and being contacted for behind-the-wheel instruction.
    • Each student has 6 hours of BTW time and 6 hours of observation since there are 2 students in the car.
    • ***If your student has turned 18, s/he must have an adult learners’ permit from DMV.

     

    BTW must be scheduled with the parent/guardian. 

    Please speak to your driver via phone call; students cannot make arrangements themselves.  Drivers meet students at Cary High and must return students to Cary High for parent pick-up.

     

    • Once BTW concludes, the driver will issue a Certificate of Completion.  Please review it carefully BEFORE you leave the lesson.  If you lose it, refer to this link to request a $25.00 replacement copy from JDS:  Lost Driver Education Certificate | Jordan Driving
    • DMV Eligibility Certificates (DECs) are issued through student services and can be picked up by the student or/parent.  You will need to show your copy of the certificate of completion.   You must have the DEC for your DMV visit.
    • Students must remain in good academic standing; DMV will issue a revocation as outlined below from page 14 DMV handbook:

    DMV must revoke thleee driver license of any person under age 18 when it receives notice from the proper school authority that the person is no longer eligible for a Driving Eligibility Certificate. This revocation remains in effect until the person’s 18th birthday unless a Driving Eligibility Certificate, high school diploma or GED Certificate is obtained.

    • Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for BTW – no sandals, flip-flops, etc.

    Obtaining Your Driver Eligibility Certificate

    The following process will allow students to receive a Driver’s Eligibility Certificate (DEC):

    DECs are only valid for 30 days; therefore, students are only eligible to receive a DEC during this time if they have a confirmed appointment with the NCDMV within 30 days of the date of the request.

    Step 1: Submit a request 

    You will start by sending an email request to Robin Beltowski (rbeltowski@wcpss.net) including the date and time of your DMV appointment. You will then receive an email confirming the date/time you can come to the high school to receive the DEC.

    Once your appointment is confirmed with the high school, the following steps will be taken:

    Step 2: Gather documentation

    You will need to bring the following documents to your appointment.

    ● Student’s birth certificate or passport

    ● Completed Driver’s Education Certificate (if it has not been emailed ahead of time)

    ● Proof of address if the current address is different than the one listed on the Driver’s Education Certificate or the address listed in PowerSchool. The address must be verified for the NC Real ID.

    You can also scan and email this information to Mrs. Beltowski. This will limit the amount of paper that has to be exchanged by staff and students. If you are unable to scan or take a photo of the document, then you will need to bring all of these documents with you to the appointment.

    Step 3: Arriving at your appointment to receive your DEC.

    Once you arrive for your appointment, a staff member will meet you at the front door of the school to process your paperwork and receive the DEC.

    Staff will check the student’s grades for adequate progress. The student must have passed 70% of the courses taken in the prior semester in order to receive a DEC.

    Once grades have been verified and all other documents are in place, the DEC can be issued to the student.

    Visiting the DMV

    Please check the NC DMV official website for hours of operation and appointment procedures.

    DMV required documents

    • Driver Education Certificate (from the instructor)
    • Driver Eligibility Certificate (DEC form from your school)
    • Original Birth Certificate (If not born in the U.S., valid passport/resident card)
    • Social Security Card (unlaminated)
    • Parent/Legal Guardian
    • Proof of Parent/Guardian Car Insurance and Driver's License
    • Proof of Residence (utility bill or other acceptable documents)
    • $ Fees

    More information about obtaining a NC Learner's Permit can be found on the official DMV webpage.

     
     
     

    Driver Education Overview

    The goal of the Wake County Public School System and its driver education contractor, Jordan Driving School (JDS), is to provide a quality driver education program to all students in a safe and timely manner. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel training. The average time to complete the Driver Education class, from registration through the classroom and driving phases, is four months. Students wanting their permits by age 15 must register on or before the age of 14 years, eight months. Students with extracurricular activities or jobs may take longer due to conflicts with scheduling driver education.

    Students are only allowed to take the class at the high school they attend or the designated location as determined by Jordan Driving School if classes are not held at their school.

    There are no academic requirements in order to take the driver education class. There are academic requirements in order to apply for a permit or license after finishing the driver education class.

    Students register online at jordandriving.com.  They will be notified to pay the $65.00 fee in order to finalize their registration. Students that are dismissed from driver education class due to behavior or attendance problems will not be allowed to take driver education a second time through the Wake County Public School System.

    Parents are highly encouraged to attend a parent-teen meeting, held on the last day of the classroom session for driver education students. This meeting will inform parents and students of behind-the-wheel procedures, review DMV requirements for each phase of graduated licensing, and provide best practices for parents teaching teens to drive.

    Registration information

    You must be 14½ years of age for the required 30-hour classroom portion. Driver Education is offered through a private contractor, Jordan Driving School, after school hours, Saturdays, holiday breaks and during summer months. Driver Education is offered to each eligible student residing within Wake County, who pays a $65 fee to register for a class. A lead teacher at each of the WCPSS high schools is assigned to administer the Driver Education program.

    Additional information

    For additional information, a message may be left for the lead teacher, who will return the call as soon as possible. You may also call Jordan Driving School, or visit their website www.jordandriving.com. On the website you will find general information, email addresses for the lead teachers, specific classroom dates and a list of additional classes that might be available. For Behind the Wheel questions or information specific to your school, contact your lead teacher.