Driver Education for Youth

• Must be 14 on or before the last date of the class
• Must be pre-registered. Pre-registration includes payment for the class and then signing up for the session of your choice.
• You must be in attendance for the first class session. If you miss for any reason, you will need to enroll in the next available class.

If your child receives Special Education services through Faribault Public Schools and may need supplementary aides and services to access and participate in Driver Education, please contact your child's case manager at the High School to set up an IEP meeting to make a determination if services are required. If you have further questions or concerns, contact the office of Special Services at 507-333-6004.
 

Driver Education costs are $435. At the time of registration, you can pay the full $435 or opt for the two-payment option. The two-payment option requires $165 at the time of registration and $270 one week before your classroom session begins. The cost for taking classroom elsewhere and taking Behind-the-Wheel sessions through Faribault Public Schools is $300.

Money will be forfeited for the following reasons:

If you fail to attend the class for which you are registered: a drop/add fee of $50 will be assessed to register for another class; if money is refunded, $50 will be subtracted from the original registration fee.

• Failure to complete the requirements of the course or missing two or more days of class.  
• Discipline reasons

HIGH SCHOOL-Students 14-18 years:
State law requires that each student completes 30 hours of the classroom portion of Driver Education. Our classes last for three hours on a 10- day schedule. Classroom sessions are offered at various times throughout the school year. If school is canceled, so is your Driver Education Class.

2025 - 2026 Driver Education School Calendar: Classroom Sessions are held from 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the Life Skills Room in the Faribault Education Center (FEC). Choose one of the following sessions:

• Session 1: Sep 15 - Sep 26 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Session 2: Oct 20 - Oct 31 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Session 3: Dec 1 - Dec 12 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Session 4: Jan 26 - Feb 6 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Session 5: Mar 2 - Mar 13 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Session 6: Apr 13 - Apr 24 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Parent Class: Dec. 3 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. FEC           

2026 Summer Sessions

• Session 1: Jun 8 - Jun 22 from 8:00 - 11:00 am
• Session 2: Jun 8 - Jun 22 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Session 3: Jul 6 - July 17 from 8:00 - 11:00 am
• Session 4: Jul 6 - July 17 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm
• Parent Class: July 8 - 3 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. FEC      

Permit Test: 

You must have the following items to take your permit test: classwork completion blue card, one form of primary identification (original birth certificate, passport or Minnesota ID), one form of secondary identification (another primary ID, Social Security card or High School ID), payment of $15.50, and glasses or contacts if applicable. Students will be given the opportunity to take the permit test at Faribault Education Center (FEC) following successful course completion. If students don't take their permit test at this time, or they do not pass the permit test the first time, they must take the permit test at the Driver Exam Station. Schedule your permit test with the Driver Exam Station via website dps.mn.gov if necessary.

A blue card will be issued upon successful class course completion.  Students must be paid in full before they can be issued a blue card. The Driver's Education Coordinator will register students for Behind-the-Wheel during the last half of the class session. If one day is missed during the class, it is the responsibility of the student to make up that day.  The same day that was missed must be made up during another class session before a blue card is issued. You may repeat the class once without paying an additional fee if your absence from class was due to an illness or a family emergency.

Students are scheduled for Behind-the-Wheel instruction on a priority list, dating back from when you passed the permit test. If students wish to take Behind-the-Wheel elsewhere, a letter of course completion will be issued to the student within 10 working days of course completion. 

State law requires six hours of Behind-the-Wheel instruction with a licensed instructor. Remember to bring your permit every time. Failure to have your permit with you when taking instruction will result in you not being able to drive that day. Please meet at the front doors of Faribault High School. 

• Missed Lessons: In addition to making up any missed instruction, a cost of $50 per hour must be paid before the student can complete Behind-the-Wheel instruction. Payment should be made to Faribault Public Schools. No white card will be issued until payment is made.
   
• Time: Students may elect to take Behind-the-Wheel instruction during the school year or during the summer.
   
• School year: After school instruction is available. Evening students will be allowed to take Behind-the-Wheel instruction during the day when an instructor is available.
   
• Summer: Students will receive six hours of Behind-the-Wheel instruction in 4 days. We will try to accommodate student needs in scheduling as much as possible.
   
• Course Completion: Once the student has completed six hours of Behind-the-Wheel instruction, they will be issued a white card from their instructor.  The white card must be presented to the examiner before taking the road test. Please schedule your road test in advance with the Driver Exam Station via website at dps.mn.gov.

Please keep your white card in a safe place where you won't lose it.  A duplicate will be issued by calling the Driver's Education Coordinator at 507-210-5703. Allow a minimum of five working days from the time of the request to be issued a new white card.  Cost is $10 for a duplicate card.