What is a Georgia Driver’s Ed scholarship?

What is a Georgia Driver’s Ed scholarship?

The Georgia Driver’s Ed Scholarship Program is a grant initiative aimed at assisting teens in covering the costs associated with completing a driver’s education course, as required by Joshua’s Law. This program is a fantastic resource for eligible teens who might otherwise face financial barriers to completing their mandatory driver’s education requirements. Keep reading for key details.

Overview of the Georgia Driver’s Ed scholarship program:

The program assists teens in meeting the driver’s education requirements outlined in Joshua’s Law, which mandates specific training for young drivers to obtain a Georgia driver’s license. After qualifying, recipients can then take Driver’s Ed and driving lessons at no cost.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Age: Be between 15 and 17 years old.
  • Permit/License: Possess a valid Georgia Instructional Permit (Learner’s Permit) or Driver’s License.

Enrollment Requirements

Applicants must enroll in a driver’s education program that includes:

  • Classroom Instruction: 30 hours of in-person classroom training or participation in an approved online program (such as Zoom-based sessions).
  • Behind-the-Wheel Training: 6 hours of hands-on driving instruction with a certified instructor.

Administering Body

The Georgia Driver’s Education Commission manages and oversees the program.

How does the Georgia Driver’s Ed program award scholarships?

The program ensures an impartial and fair allocation of scholarships, with a focus on prioritizing applicants based on specific criteria and maintaining a geographic balance across Georgia.

Priority Levels

First Priority:

  • Children or dependents of Georgia first responders who were disabled or killed in the line of duty.
  • Children or dependents of U.S. military members who were killed in action.
  • Applicants in state custody under the care of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS).

Second Priority:

Georgia Driver’s Ed Scholarship are then awarded to applicants who demonstrate financial need based on family income.

Fairness and Selection

  • Scholarships within each priority level are distributed fairly.
  • If there are insufficient funds to cover all eligible applicants within a priority group, recipients are selected randomly by computer to ensure impartiality.
  • Efforts are made to balance scholarship distribution across different geographic regions of the state.

Geographic Equity:

Scholarships are evenly distributed across Georgia’s U.S. Congressional Districts, maintaining balance and accessibility across regions.

Application Timing:

The date of application submission does not influence the selection process, ensuring no undue advantage for early or late applicants.

Award Timing:

  • The Georgia Driver’s Education Commission grants scholarships on the 1st day of each month by 11:59 PM, with notifications sent via email.
  • Awards must be confirmed before the start date of the driver’s training program the recipient plans to attend.
  • This policy ensures transparency, fairness, and equal opportunity across applicants, regardless of submission timing or external influence.

How to apply for a Georgia Driver’s Ed scholarship

Simply follow these steps to apply for a no-cost Georgia Driver’s Ed scholarship at Drive Smart Georgia.

Driver’s Ed scholarship: Step #1

  • To begin, click on THIS LINK and scroll to the bottom of the page to fill out the fields listed in the “Parent/Student Sign-Up” section.
  • You will then see this message appear on your screen, “Thank you for submitting your information.” After an account has been created, the commission will send an email with credentials and link to login. If you do not receive the login email in your inbox, please kindly check your spam folder for the email.

How soon will I hear back from the State of Georgia about the scholarship?

  • Grant scholarships are awarded monthly
  • Applications for the scholarships are due by the 5th of every month.
  • Awards and denials are issued by the 20th of each month and will be sent by email.
  • For more information, and to see if you qualify, please CLICK HERE.

Driver’s Ed scholarship: Step #2

  • After receiving notification of your grant scholarship award, you will then receive an email that includes a redemption code. After you receive your code, forward the email with the redemption code to us at [email protected]. Please attach a digital photo of your learner’s permit because we will need it and the email with the redemption code before we can register you for the Driver’s Ed class.
  • You will then receive an email from Drive Smart Georgia stating we received your confirmation code and learner’s permit. Let us know what location and the start date of your chosen class.

We will be more than happy to help you register for our $599 Road Wise package that includes the 30-hour Driver’s Ed class and 6 hours of in-car driving lessons. There are no out-of-pocket costs for teens that receive the scholarship.

Benefits of taking Driver’s Ed at Drive Smart Georgia

drive smart georgia

Are you a Driver’s Ed scholarship recipient looking for the best driving school in Atlanta? Be forewarned. Not all driving schools are equal. That’s why it’s important to do your research before picking one.

Our teachers at Drive Smart Georgia don’t just show students how to pass the test. They also strive to instill lifelong good driving habits. Below are more benefits of taking Driver’s Ed at Drive Smart Georgia.

  • We are the ONLY driving school that is endorsed by Alan Brown, the Founder of Joshua’s Law.
  • Our schools feature state-of-the-art classrooms with large 72” smartboards.
  • AAA, the nation’s leading automobile safety authority, recommends Drive Smart Georgia.
  • We’ve taught more than 60,000 students how to drive in 15 years.
  • Students can take Driver’s Ed in a classroom setting at our Johns Creek, Alpharetta or Cumming location or from the comfort of their own home with a Zoom class.
  • High 93% pass rate.

When can Driver’s Ed scholarship recipients begin driving lessons?

driving lessons drive smart georgia

After completion of the 30-hour Drivers Ed class, scholarship recipients or their parents can then login to Drive Scout (our exclusive scheduling app) to sign up for three 2-hour in-car driving lessons. There is no cost for Drivers Ed scholarship recipients!

Drive Smart Georgia Locations:

  • Johns Creek: 11380 Southbridge Pkwy., Suite 220. Alpharetta, GA 30022. Call (770) 232-0903.
  • Alpharetta: 5354 McGinnis Ferry Rd., Suite 226B. Alpharetta, GA 30005. Call (770) 232-0900.
  • Cumming: 1790 Peachtree Pkwy, Suite 202, Cumming, GA 30041. Call (470) 239-4294.

CLICK HERE get our free newsletter and teen driving tips for parents!

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