Governor signs bill giving free driver's ed courses to low-income students
The bill creates a grant program that pays driver's education tuition
The bill creates a grant program that pays driver's education tuition
The bill creates a grant program that pays driver's education tuition
Low-income students now have the opportunity to receive free driver's education courses through a new state grant program.
Gov. Tony Evers signed the bipartisan bill into law Wednesday. It directs the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to allocate $6 million every year to driver's ed tuition. Wisconsin has been without a state-sponsored driver's ed program since 2004.
To qualify for the grant program, students must also qualify for the federal free and reduced school lunch program.
Lawmakers said Wednesday they hope it helps curb reckless driving, amid a dangerous spike claiming lives on Milwaukee streets.
Students look forward to the opportunities that a driver's license provides.
"It was hard for me and my family to actually purchase driver's ed. We didn't have the funds, and it just cost a lot of money me and my family didn't have," said 18-year-old Jahmorris Torres Currin.
Torres Currin has just started learning to drive after being connected with other resources that allowed him and his family to afford a driver's ed curriculum.
"No teenager should have to suffer through this because they're not able to do driver's ed because of the price," he said.
Torres Currin began sharing his story through community organization, Common Ground. Common Ground, along with many other families struggling to pay for driver's education, caught the attention of lawmakers in Madison. The group stood next to the governor Wednesday as he signed the bill into law.
Without any help, driver's ed can cost as much as $400 to $600.
"It is overwhelming to have to come up with that kind of money to take a course like this," said Representative Bob Donovan, who authored the bill.
"When I was a kid, I took driver's education and the state provided for it," Donovan said.
Lawmakers and community officials also hope the program will open up more job and voting opportunities for young people.
It's a sense of freedom and accomplishment Torres Currin is looking forward to.
"It's a blessing. I'm really grateful. It's something I can learn more about, especially the safety behind the wheel," he said.
The state is planning for the grant program to take effect in the middle of 2024, according to Common Ground.