You can get help to pay for driver’s ed

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the WisDOT, announced that applications are now accepted for Wisconsin’s Driver Education Grant Program. The program, funded by the 2025-27 biennial budget, signed into law by Evers, provides funding for income-eligible students to take driver education courses, with the goal of becoming safe, licensed drivers.

The financial assistance available will cover driver education tuition costs for coursework and behind-the-wheel training for eligible students.

“Combatting reckless driving across our state, has been a bipartisan priority over the last few years, and teaching our kids the skills they need to be safe drivers, is another important step toward cracking down on unsafe driving,” said Evers. “Doing what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state, and ensuring the next generation of drivers can make good and safe decisions behind the wheel is critically important, to building safer roads and communities for everyone.”

The program provides grants to cover driver education tuition costs for 30 hours of classroom coursework, six hours of observation, and six hours of behind-the-wheel training for eligible students, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, through the National School Lunch Program, have not previously held a driver’s license, and who are between 14.5 and 19 years old, may apply for the Driver Education Grant Program.

“This program has already helped thousands of stu-dents learn to become safe, licensed drivers,” said WisDOT secretary Kristina Boardman.

Enrolled students will receive confirmation of eligibility, which they can take to a driver training school of their choice. The Wis-DOT developed an interactive map, to help students locate a program conveniently near them.

These students may take the classroom portion and/or the behindthe- wheel training, with an authorized driver training school. The WisDOT will reimburse the school for the students’ training.

The WisDOT will deliver an initial phase of $1.5 million in grants, to the first wave of applicants, who apply. Students unable to enroll this quarter and who did not receive funding, may sign up to be notifi ed when applications are accepted in the following quarter.

To apply, visit wisconsindot. gov.