Wyo. Code R. 206-0002-39
General Agency, Board or Commission Rules
Chapter 39: Driver Education Program Approval
Effective Date: 03/31/2007 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 206.0002.39.03312007
Section 1. Authority. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to the authority granted by Wyo. Stat. 21-3-501 promulgates these rules.
Section 2. Applicability. These rules pertain to high school driver education program approval. These rules become effective when signed by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Section 3. Promulgation, Amendment or Repeal of Rules. Any amendments to these rules shall become effective as provided by the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act (Wyo. Stat. 16-3-101 through 16-3-115).
(a) Behind-the-wheel - The practical portion of a driver education program which takes place in a vehicle, operated under on-street conditions under the supervision of a teacher seated in the front seat to the right of the student.
(b) Board of cooperative educational services - A method (established under W.S. 21-20-101 through 21-20-111) for school districts and community college districts, or any combination, to work together and cooperate to provide educational services.
(c) Certificate of approval - A certificate issued by the Wyoming Department of Education to an approved driver education program.
(d) Certificate of completion - A hard copy certificate showing that a student has successfully completed a driver education program.
(e) Classroom session - The portion of a driver education program consisting of lectures, demonstrations, audio-video presentations, written tests, etc. normally presented in a classroom setting.
(f) Clock hour - A period of time, not necessarily consecutive, consisting of 60 minutes.
(g) Community college - An institution established under Wyoming Statute 21, Chapter 18.
(h) Community education program - An educational program offered to a community by a school district, community college, recreation district or other governmental entity.
(i) Driver education program - A specific course of instruction comprised of a classroom phase and at least one laboratory phase which teaches students to drive a motor vehicle. In a public school, the program must be presented by a teacher or instructor qualified under W.S. 21-7-303(c) to teach driver education.
(j) Driver education school - A school that teaches a driver education program and is not part of a public school, private school, community college, board of cooperative educational services, community education program, or parent based driver education program. Students are under age 21 and working towards their initial driver license.
(k) High school - A school consisting of grades nine (9) through twelve (12), or any combination of grades within this range.
(l) Home based educational program - A program of educational instruction provided to a child by the child's parent or legal guardian or by a person designated by the parent or legal guardian. An instructional program provided to more than one (1) family unit does not constitute a home-based educational program.
(m) Laboratory phase - Simulation, multi-car range and/or behind-the-wheel training.
(n) Multi-car range - The practical portion of a driver education program that is taught using multiple vehicles on a closed driving area. Each vehicle is under the direct control of a student, who is in communication with an instructor.
(o) Parent based driver education program - A driver education program taught by a parent or legal guardian to their own child or children when the high school the student(s) attends does not offer a driver education course.
(p) Private school - Any nonpublic, elementary or secondary school providing a basic academic educational program for children and may include parochial and church or religious schools and home-based educational programs.
(q) Simulation - The practical portion of a driver education program that uses simulated traffic events which provide students with opportunities to respond with realistic driving controls under the close supervision of a teacher. These events can be on film or computer generated.
(a) Classroom instruction in driver education should focus upon the driver responsibilities inherent in the task of driving. The classroom curriculum should include the areas of visual perceptual development, risk assessment, decision making, and other areas related to the driving task.
(b) At a minimum, the following areas shall be included in the classroom instruction:
(xii) Turnabouts.
(xiii) Speed management.
(xxxv) Mental and Perceptual Awareness.
(xxxvi) Driver Fitness Tasks.
(xxxvii) Avoiding Collision Threat.
(a) The performance objectives developed for the laboratory phase should parallel and supplement classroom instruction. In the laboratory phase, students may apply and reinforce the knowledge and behavioral tendencies gained in the classroom as well as acquire skills and establish desirable habit patterns.
(b) Student experiences in the laboratory phase shall include a combination of the following:
(i) Behind-the-wheel experience.
(ii) In-traffic observation experience.
(iii) Simulation.
(iv) Multiple car driving range.
(c) At a minimum, the following areas shall be included in the laboratory instruction:
(i) Basic Skills and Associated Behavior.
(A) Vehicle Operating Space.
(B) Getting Ready to Drive.
(C) Starting the Vehicle.
(D) Placing Vehicle in Motion.
(E) Stopping Vehicle in Motion.
(F) Steering.
(G) Securing the Vehicle.
(ii) Judgment of Vehicle to Roadway Position.
(A) Right Side of Vehicle.
(a) Minimum program hour requirements must also be satisfied. These hour requirements are as follows:
(i) Classroom - minimum of thirty clock hours.
(ii) Behind-the-wheel - minimum of six clock hours, exclusive of observation time.
(iii) Any driver education program beginning after July 1, 2007 shall include a minimum of 6 hours observation time during the behind-the-wheel laboratory. There shall be a minimum of two students in the vehicle during all on-street lessons.
(iv) Multiple-car driving range/behind-the-wheel combination - each two hours of multiple-car range instruction shall be equivalent to one hour of behind-the-wheel instruction; however, a minimum of at least two hours of on-street instruction shall be provided (exclusive of observation time) to each student.
(v) Driver simulator/behind-the-wheel combination - each four hours of driver simulator instruction shall be equivalent to one hour of behind-the-wheel instruction; however, a minimum of three clock hours of behind-the-wheel instruction shall be required for each student (exclusive of observation time).
(vi) Multiple-car driving range/driver simulator/behind-the-wheel combination - a minimum of two clock hours of behind-the-wheel instruction; however, a minimum of three clock hours of behind-the-wheel instruction shall be required. This combination program shall not substitute more than three equivalent hours of driver simulators.
(b) No driving time shall be on a motorcycle.
(a) Program Approval Procedure.
(i) No high school, private school, community college, board of cooperative services, community education program, home-based educational program, parent based driver education program, or driver education school shall issue a certificate of completion from a driver education program for purposes of W.S. 31-7-108(a) unless the program has first been reviewed by the Wyoming Department of Education and issued a certificate of approval.
(ii) A driver education program shall apply for a certificate of approval by submitting, on a form approved by the Wyoming Department of Education, evidence that their instructors, curriculum and program structure meets the requirements of these rules.
(iii) An approved driver education program meets all of the requirements of Section 5 Classroom Phase, Section 6 Laboratory Phase, and Section 7 Minimum Hourly Requirements above.
(iv) A home based education or parent based driver education program shall meet the minimum hourly requirements as set forth in these rules. A computer based classroom program can be used to meet the classroom time requirements. The required observation time can be met by documenting observation time with a parent or legal guardian.
(v) Program approval shall be valid for three (3) years or until the instructor changes or the curriculum substantially changes.
(vi) This sub-section shall apply to all classes begun after August 15, 2006.
(b) Certificate of completion requirements.
(i) At the successful completion of the classroom and laboratory phase(s) of a driver education program, an approved driver education program may provide a certificate of completion to each student. The certificate shall include the following:
(A) name of the high school or program,
(B) student name,
(C) date of birth,
(D) student’s driver license number,
(E) date the card was issued,
(F) original signatures of the teacher and a school administrator (mechanical signatures and/or photo copies are not acceptable),
(G) certificate of approval number
(ii) The certificate should also have the following sentence on it: “This is to certify that the above named student has successfully completed a driver education program consisting of at least 30 hours of classroom and 6 hours of driving instruction.”
(iii) The certificate may be a card or a letter.