Ill. Admin. Code tit. 92, § 1060.180 - Teen Accreditation

a) Accreditation of the School - Each commercial driver training school that desires to offer driver training instruction to persons under the age of 18 must be accredited by the Secretary of State through the Department of Driver Services before instruction can be provided, offered or advertised.
1) Upon receipt of proper application for teen accreditation, the Secretary of State will investigate the school and verify the application. A Secretary of State employee shall contact the school and make an appointment to visit the school's facilities. The Secretary of State employee shall verify that the school satisfies the requirements set forth for commercial driving schools in IVC Sections 6-401 through 6-418. In addition, the school shall satisfy the requirements for commercial driver school teen accreditation set forth in subsections (b) through (e), Section 1060.181 and all other applicable provisions of the IVC and Illinois Administrative Code. Upon request, these, requirements shall be furnished to the school by the Secretary of State. If all qualifications, requirements and standards are met, the school shall be accredited to offer instruction to students under the age of 18.
2) The accreditation of each school is renewable upon the expiration date of the school license, provided all qualifications, requirements and standards are met and provided the school has been and remains in compliance with this Part.
3) Only qualified instructors may provide instruction to persons under the age of 18. Exception: in the event of an emergency situation in which the only available instructor terminates employment or must take a leave of absence while a course remains incomplete, other licensed instructors employed by the school may complete the course. No new courses may be started before properly qualified instructors are available. In all those cases, the Department must give prior approval. Approval shall not be given until the Department has verified the roster of instructors at the school and determined that no other instructor licensed by the Secretary of State to teach students under 18 is employed by the school.
4) A teen accredited driving school must submit a permit cancellation request to the Secretary of State for any student under the age of 18 with an instruction permit who withdraws from, or fails to complete, the teen accredited driver education program.
b) Required Facilities - All teen accredited driver training schools must provide all classroom facilities, vehicles and equipment as prescribed by IVC Ch. 6, Art. IV (Commercial Driver Training Schools) and this Part. The teaching facilities must provide adequate, comfortable seating for students. Lighting must be adequate and the maintenance (housekeeping) of the room orderly.
c) Instructor Qualifications
1) Classroom Instructor Qualifications - Each teen accredited driver training school must employ at least one classroom instructor licensed by the Secretary of State to teach the classroom portion of driver education to persons under the age of 18.
A) A classroom driver training instructor teaching the teen accredited program must comply with Sections 1060.120 and 1060.130.
B) The instructor must possess good physical and mental health. An application/physical exam form, provided by the Secretary of State, must be completed by the instructor and a physician.
C) The instructor must satisfy one of the following requirements:
i) Hold a valid teaching certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education that is endorsed for both secondary grades and safety and driver education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.100 (Endorsing Teaching Certificates (2004)); or
ii) Hold a baccalaureate degree, have one year of teaching experience in primary, secondary or higher education, and complete a 48 hour course approved by the Director of the Department; or
iii) Complete the 48 hour course or an equivalent college or university course (a course, at least 48 hours in length, designed to provide individuals with the knowledge, methods and procedures specific to conducting driver education instructional courses, that has been approved by the Director of the Department) and provide written documentation verifying 2 months of experience teaching the behind-the-wheel segment of driver education to persons age 18 or older; or.
iv) Hold a valid State teaching certificate and complete a 48-hour behind-the-wheel and classroom course approved by the Director of Driver Services.
2) Behind-the-wheel Instructor Qualifications - Each teen accredited driver training school must employ at least one behind the wheel instructor licensed by the Secretary of State to teach the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education to persons under the age of 18.
A) A driver training instructor teaching the teen accredited behind-the-wheel program must comply with Sections 1060.120 and 1060.130.
B) The instructor must possess good physical and mental health. An application/physical exam form, provided by the Secretary of State, must be completed by the instructor and a physician.
C) The instructor must satisfy one of the following requirements:
i) Hold a valid teaching certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education that is endorsed for both secondary grades and safety and driver education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.100 (Endorsing Teaching Certificates (2004)); or
ii) Hold a baccalaureate degree and have 2 months of experience in teaching the behind-the-wheel segment of driver education to persons age 18 and older; or
iii) Have 7 years of uninterrupted teaching experience in a commercial driver training school; or
iv) Be licensed by the Secretary of State, complete the 48 hour course (48 Hour Course - a course, at least 48 hours in length, designed to provide individuals with the knowledge, methods and procedures specific to conducting driver education instructional courses that has been approved by the Department Director) or an equivalent college or university course approved by the Director of Driver Services, and provide written documentation verifying 2 months of experience teaching the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education to persons age 18 and older; or
v) Hold a valid State teaching certificate and complete a 48-hour course approved by the Director of Driver Services.
3) Classroom and/or behind-the-wheel instructors shall not be assigned more than 12 clock hours of instructional work daily. No teen instruction, either classroom or behind the wheel, may take place between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
d) Student Qualifications
1) A driver training school or driver training instructor licensed by the Secretary of State shall comply with all of the requirements of IVC Section 6-408.5 prior to requesting a certificate of completion from the Secretary of State.
2) A superintendent or chief school administrator may waive the requirements contained within IVC Section 6-408.5 if that is in the best interests of the student or dropout. The State Board of Education may, at its discretion, by rule or regulation, establish guidelines for the waiver of the requirements of IVC Section 6-408.5.
3) Prior to a driver training school or driver training school instructor requesting a certificate of completion for a student, the driver training school or driver training instructor must verify that the student is enrolled in school and has received a passing grade in at least 8 courses during the 2 semesters. Verification of a student's eligibility to obtain a certificate of completion from the Secretary of State shall be by one of the following methods:
A) obtain written documentation on a form prepared or approved by the Secretary of State stating the student has received a passing grade in at least 8 courses during the previous 2 semesters;
B) obtain written waiver from a superintendent or school administrator on a form prepared or approved by the Secretary of State;
C) obtain written verification on a form prepared or approved by the Secretary of State stating the student is enrolled in a home school;
D) obtain copies of the student's report card and/or transcript for the previous 2 semesters indicating a passing grade in at least 8 courses during the previous 2 semesters.
4) Verification of eligibility for any person who has dropped out of school and has not yet attained the age of 18 years shall be by one of the following methods:
A) obtain written documentation verifying the dropout's enrollment in GED or an alternative education program or obtain a copy of the dropout's GED certificate;
B) obtain written verification that the student prior to dropping out, had received a passing grade in at least 8 courses during the 2 previous semesters last ending prior to requesting a certificate of completion; or
C) obtain written consent on a form prepared or approved by the Secretary of State from the dropout's parents or guardian and the regional superintendent.
5) Students enrolled in a driver training school shall be informed in writing of the eligibility requirements of IVC Section 6-408.5 at the time of registration that shall be documented in the student's file.
6) The driver training school and/or driver training school instructor shall maintain a copy and make available for inspection all written documentation required by this Section.
7) The driver training school may not enroll any students who will not be at least 15 years of age prior to the end of the classroom portion of the course.
e) Records
1) Records shall be maintained by the driver training schools that substantiate daily attendance, lesson time, and detailed descriptions of each lesson provided for each student, which must include each topic that was taught during the lesson, as well as any videos, DVDs or other materials utilized during the lesson. The beginning and ending dates of classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction shall also be recorded. Students are to be identified by name and address. The records are to be on file in the office of the driver training school for a period of 3 years.
2) The teen accredited driving school shall submit, in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of State, the names of those students who have satisfactorily completed the driver education course.

Notes

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 92, § 1060.180

Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 4295, effective March 20, 2013

Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 6670, effective 4/11/2022

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