Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-634.4

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 8, October 30, 2024

Rule 761-634.4 - Driver education course standards and requirements

(1)Course approval. Any school district, area education agency, merged area school, other agency or person planning to offer a driver education course must receive course approval, which includes approval of all teachers and instructors listed on the application, from the department prior to the beginning of the first class that is offered and annually thereafter. The agency or institution or person shall apply for course approval in a manner determined by the department. Course approval must be renewed annually. The approval is valid for one calendar year or a remaining calendar year and expires on December 31. The application for course renewal shall be submitted to the department within 60 days of the expiration date, unless otherwise approved by the department.

(2)Course requirements. Driver education courses provided by approved programs must comply with the following:

a. Schools shall provide for each student a minimum of 1800 minutes in classroom instruction, plus 360 minutes in supervised laboratory instruction, exclusive of observation time, in a dual-control motor vehicle.

b. Each student shall be scheduled to receive classroom or laboratory instruction each week of the course. Except upon showing of good cause, laboratory instruction shall not conclude later than 45 days after classroom instruction has been completed. When the driver education course provider determines there is good cause, the laboratory instruction shall not conclude later than 90 days after classroom instruction has been completed. For the purpose of this paragraph, "good cause" means an unanticipated event causing a delay in the student's ability to complete the laboratory instruction if the event is beyond the student's control.

c. Behind-the-wheel instruction shall be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes per student per session and a maximum of 60 minutes in a single day.

d. Two or more students shall be scheduled for all behind-the-wheel instruction to ensure that appropriate observation time is experienced.

e. Routine maintenance of motor vehicles to maximize energy efficiency and safety shall be included in classroom instruction.

f. Operation of motor vehicles to maximize energy efficiency and safety shall be included in classroom instruction.

g. Each school district shall provide students who are absent from instruction an opportunity to make up a reasonable amount of time and coursework.

h. When driving simulators are used for part of the behind-the-wheel driving experience, four hours of simulator experience shall be considered equal to one hour of behind-the-wheel driving in the car. However, in addition to simulator time, a minimum of three hours of on-street, behind-the-wheel driving must be completed.

i. When driving ranges are used in driver education courses, two hours of range experience shall be considered equal to one hour of on-street, behind-the-wheel driving. However, in addition to range time, a minimum of three hours of on-street, behind-the-wheel driving must be completed.

j. Motor vehicles which are designed primarily for carrying nine or fewer occupants, excluding motorcycles and mopeds, are the only motor vehicles approved for use in driver education courses, and each shall be equipped with a dual control. In addition, all driver education vehicles shall have an inside rearview mirror and an outside rearview mirror mounted on each side of the vehicle.

k. The driver education teacher or instructor shall verify at the beginning of each course that each student possesses a valid instruction permit or driver's license. Each student shall be responsible for possessing an instruction permit or driver's license throughout all laboratory instruction and report any suspension, revocation or cancellation of the instruction permit or driver's license to the driver education teacher or instructor prior to attending laboratory instruction.

(3)Experimental program. Approval of an experimental program may be granted by the department if based on student or school district need for improved instruction. The maximum duration of an experimental program shall be three years. Annual documentation of the effectiveness of instruction is required and must be submitted to the department subsequent to program completion.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 761-634.4

Amended by IAB February 12, 2020/Volume XLII, Number 17, effective 3/18/2020

Amended by IAB June 1, 2022/Volume XLIV, Number 24, effective 7/6/2022