Driver education

Step 1: Sign up for class

Anoka-Hennepin offers three different options to try and fit driver education into your busy schedule. The district offers in-school, after-school and summer classes.

Option 1: In-School

• Students who attend one of our five high schools in the Anoka Hennepin School District have the unique opportunity to enroll in Driver Education class during their school day where they can earn both a high school elective credit toward graduation AND meet the requirements to take the state permit exam within the classroom setting.
• Students will be able to register for this class in December/January during registration when they sign up for their classes for the upcoming school year. 

Option 2: After-School

Students can sign up for driver education class after school when it is offered. These classes are during the school year and vary at each school. Sign-ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Option 3: Summer Class

Summer school will be offered at each school during June once the school year has ended. Sign-ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For information on how to sign up and details about the class please click the link(s) below. 

• Andover High School
• Anoka High School
• Blaine High School
• Champlin Park High School
• Coon Rapids High School

Step 2: Pay for Behind the Wheel

By law, students who are under 18, must be enrolled for behind-the-wheel before taking the permit test.

The behind-the-wheel payment ($315) will cover four hours of behind-the-wheel with a skilled district instructor who will help ensure that your driver is prepared to take their road test when that time comes.

An online payment window on School Pay will open up a couple of weeks prior to the permit test (The teacher will provide dates - on the payment window). See the image below on how to pay. (Note: If you missed the window to pay online please contact the teacher about how to pay in person).

Need with help with logging into your ParentVUE account? 

Contact your child's school for help with logging into your parent account.

Step 3: Permit test and validation

To take the Permit test, the student needs to:

• Pass Driver Education and meet attendance requirements.
• Be 15 years of age or older.
• Present Proper Identification: one primary & one secondary ID to prove identity.
• Provide Social Security number to proctor
• Be enrolled for Behind the Wheel - $315.
• Have parent/guardian approval if under 18. 

If all the requirements are met above, the student will take the permit test on the last day of the class.

Visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website to schedule a written test

Step 4: Student obtains permit, now what?

Once a student passes the written exam and obtains permit: 

• Have them drive as much as they can with a sober adult who is 21 or older. 
• Start them off in parking lots and residential areas. 
• They may be scared to start, so go slow with them, then have them gradually work their way up. 
• The more they practice the better off they are. 
• The first 25 hours of driving will be rough but they'll get there with your guidance. Please be patient with them and get them as many hours to prepare them to drive on their own. 
• They need to log their hours, at least 50 before their road test but shoot for 100 if possible.
• Students must log their hours by using a log sheet or by downloading the Road Ready app. App Store | Google Play

Step 5: Scheduling Behind the Wheel

Students will receive a call to schedule their behind-the-wheel on a priority basis of when they qualify for their driver's license. 

To qualify for a license the student must:

•  Be 16 years old 
• Have held a permit for a minimum of 6 months.

An instructor will reach out to you:

• Students can expect to be contacted by their Behind the Wheel instructor approximately 1-2 months before the date they qualify for a license.  
• The Student must have at least 25 hours of driving time before starting their first lesson. 
• THEY HAVE TO HAVE A VALID PERMIT WITH THEM TO DO A LESSON OTHERWISE IT COUNTS AS NO-SHOW 
• If a student doesn't show up to their scheduled lesson or is more than five minutes late without a 24-hour notice, it is a $50 no-show fee.

If you haven't been called 1-2 months prior, please contact chad.fellows@ahschools.us to have an instructor reach out.

A Typical Behind-The-Wheel lesson is two two-hour sessions:

• Parallel parking, 90-degree back-in, residential/town driving, response to traffic and road conditions.
• Hill parking, roundabouts, controlled/uncontrolled intersections, left turns, observations, and considerations of pedestrians and other drivers.
• Merging on and off the freeways and changing lanes on the freeway. 
• Prepare students for the road test.

Step 6: Schedule a road test

The Road Test: 

• Students can schedule a road test once behind the wheel is completed. Visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website to find a location and schedule an appointment. 
• Please Note: These locations are extremely backed up, and can take months to get in. Advice: Get the road test scheduled after you have set up your last behind-the-wheel session to get in sooner, you can schedule a road test up to 30 days before the exam date. It is also easier to get into locations outside the cities. 

On the day of the road test, students need to bring: 

• A valid instruction permit.
• Be at least 16 years old and have their parent’s approval if under 18.
• Held an instruction permit for at least 6 months with no convictions for moving or alcohol/drug violations.
• Certificate of completion for BTW (White Card)
• Log Sheet: Must have 50 hours of supervised driving, 15 hours must be at night.
• Supply your own vehicle - with everything in working order. 
• Current proof of insurance for the vehicle.

If the student passes the road test, they now have their provisional license. Learn more about a provisional license.

Step 7: Class D provisional license

Class D Provisional license means:

• They can drive without supervision.
• They have curfew hours for the first 6 months (12 - 5 a.m.)
• Passenger Restrictions:
  • First 6 months = Only 1 Friend
  • Second 6 months = No more than 3 friends 

NOTE: Students are exempt from the above if: Accompanied by a parent or guardian or passengers are members of the driver’s immediate family.

Drivers under 18 can use a cell phone as a GPS, or as a music device but it must be mounted. They cannot talk on the cell phone when driving even if it's hands-free. 

Step 8: Full Class D license

To apply the student must go to the DMV once one of the requirements below is met. 

Student can apply for a Full Class D License when:

• They are at least 18 years of age and were previously licensed for at least 6 months.
• They can apply for one early; if under 18, and have held a provisional driver’s license for 12 consecutive months with no moving or drug violations, or at-fault accidents.