At Stevenson, the Driver Education classroom is a requirement to graduate. The class does not have a fee, however, if you choose to take the driving portion (Behind the Wheel) of the coursework then a lab fee will apply. Freshman cannot take the classroom or driving portion of drivers education (regardless of age) until the summer between freshman and sophomore year.
Driving ONLY is also a possibility for transfer students who have already taken the classroom portion elsewhere. Arrangements might be possible, especially if 8th period is free.
*To enroll in Driver Education at Stevenson, request the course during scheduling or contact your counselor. The Driver Education team can assist with questions but can NOT enroll your student in the course.
In Illinois, you must be 15 years of age AND enrolled in a Driver Education course (at school or privately) to get a permit.
Do not go to the DMV without the required documentation and form stating such!
Permitting at SHS
We do the permitting process at school. Depending on the semester you are enrolled, we will contact you in October/November for Second Semester enrollment OR April/May for Summer and Spring enrollment. Each semester we also have a parent/student meeting.
As part of the permitting process, we:
Give students an eye test (pass with 20/40 vision)
Assist in filling out an online application
Administer the Rules of the Road test (aka permit test)
Once complete, signed and paid ($20), the Driver Education team will bring the applications and money to the DMV for processing.
Please note we are NOT the DMV. We can NOT print off, make a copy or renew your permit. You have to go the DMV. We also can NOT get you your license!
When You'll need your Social Security Number
Permit:
UNDER 18 years old: No SSN is needed for students to get permit
OVER 18 years old: SSN is NEEDED,
If a student has NO SSN, they might qualify under the Visa TVDL program or the Non-Visa TVDL program (See below). In this case, the student needs extra documentation from a special DMV. We cannot provide this documentation. The nearest special DMV is the Des Plaines DMV.
If the student has a Visa in their passport, they have to visit a facility for their documents to be reviewed.
If you are 17 years old and 3 months + you do NOT have to be enrolled in a Driver Education course to get a permit, you can simply go to the DMV and do so.
Over 18-year-olds (17 years old and 3 months +) can take a six hour online course to satisfy the state requirements AND school classroom requirements.
This six hour online course can be used as graduation requirement
Cost is $60-100
Once complete, the student needs to wait until they are 18 to get their license
Over 18 and getting your license:
If you took Driver Education at SHS and decided to wait to get a license until you are 18-years-old, then you will have to bring your school transcripts (proof that you took the course) in addition to the information listed above.
Illinois does recognize some states licensing. If the state where you transferred from does NOT have a classroom requirement, you will have the take the classroom portion of Drivers Education to graduate AND to get a license (if under 18). Please contact the Driver's Education department at shs_driveredu@d125.org and we can help assist you personally.
Freshman can take Driver Education coursework between freshman and sophomore year as long as they are 15-years-old before the first day of summer school. You must be 15 to get a permit.
Absence rules for Driver Education follow the same rules as other summer school courses. Parents my contact the Driver Education department for possible exceptions.
Driver Education courses will not be booked over capacity as we do not have the driving capability.
Summer school students will be contacted in April to get their permits and we will schedule a parent/student meeting.
*IF THE STUDENT IS NOT ENROLLED WE ARE UNABLE TO GET THE STUDENT A PERMIT
To enroll in Driver Education at Stevenson, request the course during scheduling or contact your counselor. The Driver Education team can assist with questions but can NOT enroll your student in the course. Information on SHS counselors can be found on the Student Services page.
We have been allowed to administer eye test, application and permit test (Rules of the Road test); however, we can NOT process them or print them here.
If the student is under 18 years old, a social security number is NOT required.
If the student is OVER 18 years old, social security number is REQUIRED.
Lost Permit
In the case of a lost permit, students must go to the DMV for replacement. A replacement permit costs $5 and you must bring a School ID, Birth Certificate or Passport.
Permit Renewal
To renew a permit you must visit the DMV and bring a School ID, Birth Certificate or Passport. The cost is $10 and you will need to take a written and vision test. Once renewed, the permit is good for one year.
License
SHS Driver Education department is NOT the DMV.
There is no cost for getting your license. The $20 permit fee covers the cost of your first license.
In order to get a State ID there is an $20 additional cost.
We suggest getting a real Real ID for no additional cost. However, you will need to bring additional address documentation as well as a school ID and Birth Certificate or Passport.
IF you are 18-years-old, bring school transcripts to prove student passed the Driver Education classroom.
2021-22 Driver Education Lab fee
$325 (+ $20 cost of permit)
Summer fee: Add Summer school cost of $350
Permit Pick up
We will contact all enrolled students as soon as the permits are ready. There will be multiple dates during the summer where you can come and pick them up.
If your permit is lost in the mail you will have to go to the DMV to get a duplicate.
Classroom Only Students
If you chose to take classroom only (no Behind the Wheel), then you will have to take the driving portion outside of school.
We do not offer Behind the Wheel only.
This fulfills SHS’s graduation requirement.
While the classroom work is required for graduation, getting a Driver License is NOT a graduation requirement.
Requirements to get an IL Driver License
If you are under 18-years-old:
Take 30 hours of classroom work.
If under 30 hours, you will NOT be eligible for license.
In person attendance is REQUIRED.
Drive 50 hours with an adult – 21 or older – with a license for at least one year.
Six hours of driving with a certified instructor.
Permit eligibility – need to be ENROLLED in a drivers education course
Hold permit for 9 months (276 days)
If you wait until you are 18-years-old.
BRING Stevenson HS transcript as proof of classroom completion
