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SPONSOR: Sen. Sturgeon & Rep. K. Williams
Sens. Pinkney, Sokola; Rep. Berry
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE BILL NO. 246
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DRIVER EDUCATION
CERTIFICATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
1 Section 1. Amend § 4125, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
2 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
3 § 4125. Driver education certification.
4 (a) A driver education teacher may not certify that a student enrolled in a State-approved driver education course
5 during the regular school year is qualified to be issued under § 2710 of Title 21 for either a Driver Education Learner’s
6 Permit or a Level 1 Learner’s Permit by the Division of Motor Vehicles unless the student has done completed all of the
7 following:
8 (1) Fulfilled the requirements of the state-approved driver education program, program during the regular
9 school year, including demonstrating all of the following:
10 a. Successfully completed both components of the driver education program, which are as follows:
11 1. Classroom.
12 2. Behind-the-wheel instruction and observation.
13 b. Demonstrated knowledge related to traffic stops by a law-enforcement officer as required under §
14 2713(e) of Title 21.
15 (2) Met the minimum credit requirements to qualify as a tenth grader as of Was enrolled in tenth or a higher
16 grade, on or before September 30 of the school year that when the student was enrolled in the driver education course.
17 course under paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
18 (3)a. Earned passing grades in at least 5 credits at the time of certification, with at or their equivalent (credits)
19 on the student’s most recent, published report card (report card) as follows:
20 1. All 5 credits must be in a regular course of study, or its equivalent as approved by the local
21 governing body of the student’s school.
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22 2. At least 2 of those credits in separate areas of the credits must be in English, mathematics, science,
23 world language, or social studies.
24 3. When the student’s report card includes grades for the marking period and the final grade, the
25 student’s final grade determines if the student earned a passing grade.
26 b. The Department of Education shall establish, through regulations, how the number of credits required
27 under paragraph (a)(3)a. of this section is calculated, including how equivalent credit is determined and calculated.
28 (b) A If a student who is receiving special education services under an active student’s individualized education
29 plan (IEP) will be authorized until age 21 (IEP), all of the following apply:
30 (1) The student has until the student’s eligibility for special education and related services terminates because
31 the student is 22 years old to complete his or her the driver education certification through a State-approved the state-
32 approved driver education course. Pursuant to
33 (2) As provided under Department of Education regulation, regulations, the student may be authorized to
34 subsequently enroll in another driver education course if the student fails the driver education course during the regular
35 school year.
36 (c) A student who is receiving special education services and is precluded from meeting the academic
37 requirements of under subsection (a) of this section due to because of modifications in the grading procedure or course of
38 study for the student shall is student, is eligible for certification if the student’s school principal determines that the student
39 is making satisfactory progress in accordance with the requirements of that student’s IEP.
40 (e) A If a student who has successfully completed the driver education course but does not meet the certification
41 requirements of under this section upon completion of a driver education course may meet section, the student is eligible
42 for certification under § 2710 of Title 21 if the student meets the requirements under this section during the subsequent next
43 marking period. If the student fails to meet the requirements under this section at the end of the subsequent next marking
44 period, the student will be is ineligible for certification.
45 Section 2. This Act takes effect on August 1, 2026.
SYNOPSIS
This Act updates how academic eligibility for driver education certification is calculated because many high
schools have moved from the traditional 7-period school day to various forms of block scheduling. Under this Act, the
Department of Education must establish, through regulations, how equivalent credit is calculated for courses taught on a
block schedule or when the full length of a course is less than 1 year. This Act also adds world language to the academic
courses from which a student may satisfy the credit requirement.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative
Drafting Manual.
Author: Senator Sturgeon
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