Driver’s Education – Northfield Public Schools

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Driver Education

A complete drivers education program conducted by certified instructors with a combined 100+ years of teaching experience.

Our Drivers Education program has two phases:

Phase 1:

30 hours of in person Drivers Education Classroom instruction

Phase 2:

6 hours of Behind the Wheel training

Why We Offer In-Person Driver’s Education
Research shows students learn and retain critical safety information best through in-person instruction. Our instructors see this impact firsthand in how prepared students are for Behind-the-Wheel training, and in higher first-time permit test pass rates. For this reason, we offer Driver’s Education exclusively in person—so every student is confident, capable, and ready for the responsibility of driving.

Driver’s Education:

Quick Guide for Families

Driver’s Education includes two required phases: Classroom Instruction and Behind-the-Wheel Training. Both are necessary for students to earn their license.

Register for the Combo Package

We strongly recommend registering for the Combo Package, which includes both phases.

Complete the Classroom Course

Students learn traffic laws, safe driving habits, and defensive driving skills needed to become responsible drivers.

Beginning in July 2025, the Minnesota Department of Vehicle Services (DVS) moved to an electronic system for issuing what we previously called the “blue card” and “white card”. After your student completes the classroom course and is registered for Behind the Wheel, their information is entered into the system so they can schedule their permit test.

If a student is registered for Drivers Classroom ONLY, they will receive a Letter of Completion. This letter is required in order to enroll in a Behind the Wheel program.

Earn a Permit

After classroom completion and DVS submission, students may take the permit test.

Practice Driving with an Adult

Fill your Supervised driving log. Most (if not all) of the Supervised Driving Log hours should be completed by the time your student begins Behind the Wheel Training.

Schedule Behind-the-Wheel Training

Behind-the-Wheel appointments should be scheduled 6–8 weeks before the road test, when most supervised driving hours are complete.

Why not schedule Behind the Wheel right after a student receives their permit?

The student will be better prepared for instruction and testing if Behind the Wheel appointments are close to the date of their road test.

This timing helps ensure students get the most benefit from their training and are confident on test day.

Take the Road Test

With classroom instruction, Behind-the-Wheel training, and practice completed, students are prepared to test with confidence.

Our Recommendation

Registering for the Combo Package helps prevent delays, ensures DVS eligibility, and keeps your student on track for licensing success.

Program Graphic

Drivers Education Classroom Attendance Policy:

Students may miss one class and still pass. Homework will be assigned and needs to be returned in order to have their information entered into the DVS system or receive a Letter of Completion.
If more than one day is missed (for any reason), the student will need to repeat the class.
If you communicate with Community Education before the second absence, we can transfer payment to a future session.
If no communication is received, the family will need to re-register and pay the full fee.

Ready to register?
You can sign up for the Drivers Education Combo Package here.

When it’s time to schedule Behind-the-Wheel appointments, please contact:

Marianne Moser
Enrichment Coordinator
mmoser@northfieldschools.org

507.664.3648

Printable Classroom Registration Form

upcoming Driver’s Education classroom sessions

March 2026:

March 2-13, 2026, 6-9pm – Monday-Friday

Summer 2026:

June 11-25th, 2026 – Monday-Friday (no classes June 19)- 2 sessions

8-11am or 12-3pm

August 3-14, 2026 – Monday-Friday – 1 session

8-11am

Fall:

Our Fall session usually begins the Monday after MEA break. Dates and times to be determined.

January:

Our January session usually begins the Monday we return from Winter break. Dates and times to be determined.

Students must be 14 years, 9 months old before the first day of class.

If you have Drivers Education program questions, please contact:

Marianne Moser, Enrichment Coordinator:
507.664.3648 or email mmoser@northfieldschools.org

Driving Log State Requirements

Effective January 1, 2015, every driver under the age of 18 who completes behind the wheel instruction and is testing for a provisional driver’s license must submit a driving log. Parents/guardians have two options regarding the supervised driving log (see Option 1 & 2 below). The driving log must be presented at the time of the road test and submitted with the application for the provisional license.

Parent Awareness Presentation

Point of Impact Parent Awareness presentation is a free, supplemental curriculum night for parents held by Northfield Community Education. Presenters include the Rice County Sheriff’s office and one of our Community Education Driving instructors. We ask that parents register for the free presentation so that your certificate can be prepared in advance. Register here.

Option 1: Complete a supplemental parent class provided by a driver education program approved in Minnesota (see Parent Awareness Presentation information above), and then submit a supervised driving log showing their teen has completed at least 40 hours (2,400 minutes) of supervised driving, 15 (900 minutes) of which are nighttime hours.

Option 2: If the parent/guardian chooses to not complete the supplemental parent class, the driving log must show that their teen has completed at least 50 hours (3,000 minutes) of supervised driving, 15 (900 minutes) of which are nighttime hours.

Bienvenidos a Northfield Public Schools!