Driver education program in the front seat at The Woodlands High School

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- This summer, students have an opportunity to learn how to be defensive and educated drivers.

Region 6 Education Service Center and The Woodlands High School have partnered to provide local teens with an affordable and convenient option to driver education.

Students will spend 32 hours learning in a classroom setting about safe driving habits, road signs, hazards and how to prevent an accident.

Amy Moser, a safety education training specialist with Region 6 Education Service Center, said students can receive their permit after the first week of the classroom portion.

The Education Service Center is the only service that provides driver education directly through the public school system.

The partnership with TWHS and surrounding schools has always been positive, Moser said.

Instead of spending excessive time and money at a commercial driving school this summer, Moser said learning through the Education Service Center’s program is much more beneficial and worthwhile.

“I think sometimes parents don’t know they have options other than a commercial driving school,” Moser said. “These sessions are great because the students can stay at school and parents just pick them up after. We also offer the classroom portion online, so if the dates do not work for the parents or student, they are perfectly capable of jumping in the course to do the behind-the-wheel portion.”

Along with classroom and behind-the-wheel portions, students have an opportunity to earn 12 hours of driver education in a state-of-the-art driving simulator.

“We just got our brand new simulator,” Moser said. “It’s one of only a couple in the nation, so this summer class will be the first ones to try it out. It’s really neat. It allows the instructor to really put the students in different situations and weather changes. It’s going to be really good for the kids.”

If the summer session’s dates do not work for a parent or student, the Education Service Center offers sessions throughout the school year as an after-school program.

The dates for the fall session will be released in the coming weeks, Moser said.

For more information about the Region 6 Education Service Center, visit www.esc6.net/DriversEd.

For more information about the summer session and how to register, click here.