Print edition: 
HUTCHINSON — While more than a dozen Kansas school districts dropped driver's education programs last year because of the state's budget troubles, the programs' state director hopes the trend won't continue.
Last year, the state used funding from speeding tickets that is designated for driver's education programs for other needs. That caused reimbursements to districts for each student in a driver's ed class to drop from $100 to zero, before going back up to $38.
That loss of funding prompted several districts to drop driver's education, but at least 88 percent of the state's districts continue to offer classes, said Joan Peterson, who oversees driver's education courses in Kansas.
Peterson, who oversees the courses, both public and commercial, through the Kansas State Department of Education, said she is confident the program's funding won't be targeted again this year.
"It would make no sense to take money from schools and students trying to learn to drive safely," Peterson said. "The amount of money involved wouldn't even be a Band-Aid for what they need. And it makes no sense for them to take that money from the schools and student drivers who are trying to drive safely when they gave up way more from the feds by not passing a mandatory seat belt law."
Kansas lawmakers' decision last year to not pass a mandatory seat belt law cost the state $11 million in federal highway funding.
Kansas high schools last year trained nearly 18,900 student drivers, while 30 commercial driving schools trained about 9,000 more, Peterson said.
Professional driving instructor Ric Newell said driver's education classes are important because the teachers know what to cover and are patient with new teen drivers.
He recommends that any parent planning to teach their children first retrain themselves.
"Too many parents say 'I've been driving 30 years and I can do this,' " he said. "Find a driving book and develop a curriculum."
While district curriculums can vary, the state has established standards for all driver's education courses, Peterson said. Parents can find the standards on the Kansas State Department of Education's Web site or can order a copy from the state.
