Program funded by governor in 2023-25 biennial budget expands access to driver training for more teens across the state

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), on Sep 5th, announced the launch of Wisconsin’s new Driver Education Grant Program. The program, funded by the 2023-25 biennial budget signed into law by Gov. Evers, aims to reduce barriers for low-income students to take driver education courses and become licensed drivers, while promoting safe driving and safer roads.

“Expanding access to driver education for students across the state makes our kids and drivers safer, our streets safer, and our communities safer,” said Gov. Evers. “Tackling reckless and dangerous driving across our state has been an important priority for our administration, and I’m glad it’s an issue that finally received bipartisan attention and support last session. This program will help take the financial burden out of providing kids with quality drivers education for low-income families and ensure we are setting them up for success by becoming licensed drivers.”

Last year, Gov. Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 86 into law, creating a driver education grant program to pay the costs of driver education courses for certain low-income eligible students at approved driver education providers. Funded by $6 million set aside in the governor’s 2023-25 biennial budget, the program covers a driving school’s fees for 30 hours of classroom time, six hours of observation, and six hours of behind-the-wheel driver training. The tuition will be paid directly to the driving school. The funds will be made available to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the available funds are depleted.

“Affordable driver training is a tool in our toolbox to help us improve safety on our roads,” said WisDOT Deputy Secretary Kristina Boardman. “This innovative program gives more of our young people the vital education they need to become safe drivers. We’ve made the enrollment process easy for the student and straightforward for the authorized driver training provider.”

WisDOT’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) developed a streamlined process to deliver this program. Teens who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch can apply here to have their classroom and behind-the-wheel driver training paid for by the state. Students receiving grants may enroll in any driver education program offered by an authorized provider, such as a public school, CESA program, Tribal or private school, or DMV-licensed driver training school. Enrolled students will receive a confirmation email with a coupon code that they will then provide to the driver training school. The school enters the coupon number with the student record, and the driving school will be reimbursed for the course fee.

WisDOT DMV’s Driver Training School Unit licenses and regulates commercial, for-profit driver training schools and instructors. DMV also ensures students under the age of 18 meet the state requirements of completing a driver education course and accumulating at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, at least 10 hours of which were during hours of darkness, before getting their licenses.

This grant program builds upon the work of Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration to improve safety on Wisconsin roads and address the rising concern of reckless driving statewide. Gov. Evers has directed over $100 million toward violence prevention and community safety initiatives, including $3.5 million for the city of Milwaukee specifically to prevent reckless driving. Gov. Evers has similarly taken additional steps aimed at curbing reckless driving and promoting safer driving in Wisconsin, including signing Senate Bill 92, which was the first bill enacted in the governor’s second term. Additionally, Gov. Evers also signed two additional bills during the last legislative session to help address reckless driving and carjacking in the state by increasing penalties for both and creating a new “carjacking” section of the criminal code.

In addition, as part of his 2023-25 biennial budget proposal, Gov. Evers proposed significant investments to reduce reckless driving and keep communities safe. While the final 2023-25 budget signed by Gov. Evers provided $6 million for the driver education program, $16,000 to develop and implement electric vehicle license plate stickers to assist first responders in emergency response for electric vehicles, and three additional positions for motor carrier inspectors in the Wisconsin State Patrol, the vast majority of the governor’s provisions to address reckless driving were removed by Republican lawmakers during the budget process. More information on the governor’s proposed investments in the 2023-25 biennial budget is available here.