Driver Education Classroom Instruction
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) provides driver education instruction to meet the Virginia requirements for students to receive their driver's licenses. In 10th grade health and physical education (HPE II), each high school provides a minimum of 30 hours of classroom driver education instruction.
The Code of Virginia (§22.1-205) requires students and their parent/guardian living in Planning District 8 - which includes the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park - to participate in an in-person 90-minute parent/teen presentation. PWCS students and a parent/guardian must attend a meeting together as part of their classroom driver education course.
For more information on safe driving, please see Partners for Safe Teen Driving, A Community Health Initiative.
Important!
Both student and parent/guardian must attend a 90-minute teen driving safety presentation as part of the in-classroom portion of the driver education curriculum. This meeting is only for PWCS students currently enrolled in HPE II or PWCS students who have completed HPE II. HPE I students are not eligible to attend this meeting. This program requirement must be met before a student receives a Driver Education Certificate of Completion Card (DEC-District 8 card).
2023-24 90-Minute Parent/Guardian and Teen Presentation
Please note: The 90-minute parent/guardian and teen driver education meetings are held in-person. Meetings may have limited capacity. Students and parent/guardian should attend a meeting at their school.
Please contact your student's HPE II teacher for additional information on upcoming meeting dates and information for the 2023-24 school year.
Driver Education DEC-District 8 Completion Cards and TDL-180 Temporary Driver Licenses
Please contact your student's school to obtain the student DEC-8 Completion Card and TDL-180.
Juvenile Licensing
For more information on juvenile licensing, please scroll to the bottom of this webpage to view the 180-Day Provisional License section or visit the Virginia DMV website.
Behind-the-Wheel (Road/Range) Driver Education Program
Behind-the-wheel instruction provides approximately 14 hours of observation and actual driving in residential, open, and interstate roadways. Contact your school's driver education coordinator for information on behind-the-wheel class availability.
Click on the below registration link. *Please note you will not be able to schedule a behind-the-wheel class until final payment is submitted online or to the driver education coordinator at the school.
PWCS Driver Education Registration
Driver Education Coordinator Information
| School | Coordinator | |
|---|---|---|
| Battlefield High School | Krista Link | linkkl@pwcs.edu |
| Brentsville District High School | Julie O'Neill | oneillje@pwcs.edu |
| Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School | Sandi Viggiani | viggiasc@pwcs.edu |
| Forest Park High School | Tommy O'Neill | oneilltm@pwcs.edu |
| Freedom High School | Melanie Raton | ratonms@pwcs.edu |
| Gainesville High School | Chris Bailey | baileycm@pwcs.edu |
| Gar-Field High School | Mickie Sullivan | sullivma@pwcs.edu |
| Hylton High School | Lindsey Winter | winterla@pwcs.edu |
| Osbourn Park High School | Rod Hodgson | hodgsorf@pwcs.edu |
| Patriot High School | Amy Dignan | dignanam@pwcs.edu |
| Potomac High School | Brett MeGee | megeebc@pwcs.edu |
| Unity Reed High School | Leigh Broady | broadylv@pwcs.edu |
| Woodbridge High School | Meshailay Thomas | thomasms@pwcs.edu |
Obtaining A Learner's Permit
If the applicant is at least 15 years and 6 months old and under 18, a learner's permit may be obtained at a Department of Motor Vehicles customer service center after fulfilling several requirements. For details on the application and licensing process, go to the DMV website.
Study for the learner's permit test and complete practice exams
180-Day Provisional License
To receive a 180-Day Provisional License, the student must meet several Virginia requirements. Please click on the link below to read the requirements for the Juvenile Licensing Process in Virginia:
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles VA Driver's License Information
- Parent/Guardian Form Granting The School Permission to Issue Their Child A 180-Day Provisional Driver's License (PDF)
Teen Driving Restrictions
Virginia's driving restrictions are not meant to penalize teen drivers but to help them stay safe while they gain valuable driving experience. Studies have found that these restrictions work to reduce the number of car crashes among young drivers.
Curfew Restrictions
If you are under the age of 18, Virginia law prohibits you from driving from midnight to 4 a.m., except when driving:
- To or from a place of business where you are employed;
- To or from an activity that is supervised by an adult and is sponsored by a school or by a civic, religious, or public organization;
- With a licensed spouse age 18 or older, a parent, or other adult acting in loco parentis who is occupying the front passenger seat,
- In case of an emergency, including responding to emergency calls as a volunteer firefighter or rescue squad personnel.
Restrictions on the Number of Passengers
If you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 21, unless accompanied by a licensed parent or other adult acting in place of a parent, in the front passenger seat. However, after you have held your license for one year, you may carry up to three passengers under age 21 in the following situations:
- Travel to and from a school-sponsored activity;
- A licensed driver 21 or older is in the front passenger seat; or
- In case of an emergency.
Learner's permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under age 18. (Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members)
Violations of either the curfew or passenger restrictions can result in the suspension of your driver's license.
Cellular Telephone/Wireless Telecommunications Device Restrictions
Phone down; it's the law!
§ 46.2-818.2. Virginia’s cellular telephone law prohibits any person from holding a handheld personal communications device while driving a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth.
Driver Education Information and Resources
Are you ready to start studying for your VA driver's license? Complete the Permit Practice Tests.
For additional questions and information, please contact the Health, Physical Education, and Driver Education program at 703-791-7270.