Most North Olympic Peninsula schools are increasing driver’s education rates for the upcoming school year.
The increases are in response to a decision in Olympia to reduce state funding for driver’s education programs, leaving schools scrambling to pay for related expenses such as instructor salaries, vehicle repairs, oil, gas and textbooks.
Forks High School students will face the highest increase.
Students there previously paid $25 to attend driver’s education. That cost will jump to $290 this fall.
Forks school district Business Manager Bruce Thomas said the actual per-student cost of the program is $289.52.
However, under the new state funding policy, school districts receive $203 for a low-income student in driver’s education.
That means qualifying low-income students could only have to pay $86.
Full details appear in today’s edition of the Peninsula Daily News. Click onto “Subscribe” to have your PDN delivered to your home or office.