Summer registration opens April 10, 7:00 am

Click here (disabled until April 10th) to submit Summer 2023 TSE course request

Due to popular demand and a waitlist from spring semester 2023, limited space will be available based on the order in which requests are received.

Research shows that teenagers who take a driver’s education class are much safer on the road. This semester-long course will focus on traffic safety education (TSE) and personal finance through a blended semester developing student independence. The traffic safety education quarter will cover the state requirements for earning a Driver’s License in the state of Washington. Students will be required to complete a minimum of six hours of supervised drives with a certificated driving instructor outside of the school day (additional observation hours are also required). Students are required to have a Learner's Permit during or prior to taking this course. During financial education, students will learn personal finance skills necessary for life after high school.  Students will learn about income, money management/budgeting, spending and credit, as well as saving and investing. Students will need to have a Learner's Permit for the TSE portion of this class to participate.

Course Requirements:

• 30 hours of Traffic Safety Education classroom instruction
• 6 hours of driving with Behind the Wheel Instructor
• Driving observation is required with each drive (in addition to 6 hours of drive time)
• 12 hours of home-driving practice
• A student shall meet the objectives and competencies listed in the curriculum guide prior to being issued a completion certificate 

Eligibility:

• Students must have a pending permit on the first day of class and obtain their learner's permit no later than three calendar days after the start of class.

Enrollment Criteria:

• Active student in Walla Walla Public Schools OR 

           Enrollment for Non-WWPS Students
           - Summer: Must have been an active WWPS student during the prior school year to avoid a course fee
           - Priority is given to WWPS students
           - The course fee is $450.00 for out-of-district students
           - During the school year WWPS will claim a partial FTE for private/home school students

• Course Requests - (Spring Semester 2023 is full, no longer taking requests); students may make course requests for the 2023-24 school year through the normal registration process
• Registration opens for Summer Session 2023, April 10 (check this webpage the week of March 13 for updates)

Sample/Tentative Summer Session Schedule (subject to change):

Summer Session will likely start a week after school ends, the week of June 26th, and end the week of July 24th.
Classroom instruction will be held 2 hours a day (not including drives) - TBA
Summer School Dates (unofficial, subject to change)
     June 26 - 29
     July 5 - 7 (July 7 is a Friday)
     July 10 - 13
     July 17 - 20
     July 24 - 27: Makeups/Completion of Drives/Paperwork submission
Drives are typically scheduled on the days that classes are offered; however, makeups may fall on non-class days depending on behind-the-wheel instructor availability.

Student Expectations:

• Students will be held to a behavioral code of conduct.
• This is a performance-based program. Students must attend all classroom sessions and complete all course requirements before course completion can be reported to the Department of Licensing.
• ALL classroom assignments, assigned work, and completed tests/quizzes must be passed with a minimum of 80% for the student to receive completion.
• If you fail a unit concept test, you will need to retake a similar test within one to two class periods (without getting behind on current content and concepts).
• Students are expected to complete their drives/observations within the start and finish dates of the session. Exceptions due to unforeseen circumstances must be communicated and documented.
• Students are to be on time for each scheduled drive session and possess their driving permit. Arriving without a driving permit will be cause for not driving and will result in a missed drive.
• If a student needs to miss a drive, the driving instructor must be notified no less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled drive time. Failure to do so will result in a $50 missed drive time fee.

Student Fees:

• No cost to active students of Walla Walla Public Schools or Private/Homeschool students residing within school district boundares
• Out-of-district students taking the course during the summer will pay a registration fee of $450.
• Students must give 24-hour notice if they are unable to make their scheduled drive time. Students that fail to give advanced notice, or miss their drive completely may be charged a $50 rescheduling fee.

Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) Expectations:

• Students are required to pass six hours total of behind-the-wheel drive time to complete the course. Students are also required to complete observations during each drive. Each drive will include drive time AND observation.
• Drive lessons occur outside of class (i.e. after school starting at 3:30 pm, or on Saturdays - times may vary).
• By law, a student can only complete one hour of BTW drive time on any given day.
• The BTW drives will begin as soon as the first week of class. Up to three students will be scheduled for each drive lesson session (BTW plus observation).
• Walla Walla Public Schools will not allow students to drive on solo lessons. There is a strict no-show policy, because we must cancel the drive, or find a substitute student, if you fail to show for a drive lesson. Your no-show impacts other students and the instructor – 1st no should results in a $50 fee, and 2nd no show could result in being dropped from the course. The District Traffic Safety team will review all cases.
• No cell phones, electronic devices, or backpacks will be allowed in the passenger compartment of the cars during the drives.
• No food or liquids (except water) will be allowed in the car during drives.
• Distractive behaviors while in the vehicle are not allowed and will be dealt with as a behavior violation.
• Students must arrive at their scheduled BTW drive lesson prepared, well-rested, and alert or their drive can be canceled.

Schedule a drive time: 

Need a drive time? Click HERE

Immediate Course Removal, Course Failure, and Repeating a Course:

• It is understood that if a Traffic Safety Education student flagrantly disobeys the course instructor, they can be dropped from the class immediately. (A poor attitude will not be allowed behind the wheel.)
• Illegal use of a motor vehicle carries severe consequences. Students observed driving a personal vehicle without proper supervision (while enrolled in this course) will be dropped from the class immediately.
• Students may be dropped from this class if traffic violations are reported or observed by a traffic safety instructor.
• Any student reporting to class or their drive lesson who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (prescribed or illegal) will be immediately referred to the school administration and/or the police for evaluation.
• An absence due to a suspension, expulsion or missing the class more than two times will require make up or repeat of the course for completion.  The student will need to design a plan with the Traffic Safety Education coordinator to make up missing work.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click here)