Are you ready for your teen to become a safe and responsible driver? Paradigm Schools does not offer driver education classes, which is why we invited the Wright Driving School to provide private lessons at our campus after normal school hours. Learn more about this local program and how to enroll your teen this year. 

Wright Driving School In-Person Courses

If your child is at least 15 years old, they can now apply to take classes with Wright Driving School. The school has done well to prepare students for the road and obtain their driver’s licenses in Utah. A learner’s permit is not necessary for your child to start their course. 

The instructors will teach a 9-lesson course for 9 consecutive days. This excludes any weekends and holidays. In-person classes are after school hours at Paradigm Schools, Monday-Friday for 2 hours per class period. These classes are offered every other month, except for March. Sign-up for a classroom or online course through their website.

The price for a 9-day classroom course with 3 driving sessions is $330. The price is the same if your teen is interested in an online course. 

Utah Online Driver’s Ed Class

We understand that your teenager can be busy. A 9 day course may not work for someone who plays sports or has a demanding schedule of extracurricular activities. That is why Wright Driving School now offers Utah certified online courses that gives students the opportunity to work on their driver’s education whenever they want. 

As soon as the online course is complete, your child can schedule some time behind the wheel for 3 driving lessons, following a proctored exam.

How to Get Your Driver’s License in Utah

Now that your child is ready for their first license, we are here to guide you through the process! Here are the steps to get started:

• Step 1 – Sign-up for a driver’s education course online or in-person
• Step 2 – Get hands-on experience and schedule 3 driving lessons
• Step 3 – Study for the proctored exam with Wright Driving School and pass it
• Step 4 – Take the Traffic Safety and Trends Exam on the DMV website
• Step 5 – Schedule a final road test
• Step 6 – Verify all DMV requirements and schedule an appointment for your Utah driver’s license

It is a good idea to know what the driver license requirements are before beginning these steps to ensure that your teen qualifies. 

How Parents Can Help

Effective driver training involves parents providing their new driver with opportunities to practice and gain more confidence on the road. Start by teaching the basics. Here are some of the controls and features you will want to teach them:

• How to start and turn off the car
• Navigating the steering wheel
• Adjusting the seat
• Dashboard controls
• Mirror adjustments
• Turning signals
• Safety and emergency features
• Headlights
• Windshield wipers
• Parking brake
• Warning dashboard lights
• Filling up the gas

Take them to a safe area to practice what they know. An empty parking lot is a great place to start learning. Be patient with your child as they become more familiar with the controls and features. Help them to practice navigating the wheel, breaks, and gas. 

Once your teen becomes more familiar with how a car works, they can learn how to park and back up. When you both feel comfortable, ease them into a busier area. Then they can eventually practice driving on the highway. As they become more experienced drivers, it is best to let them try driving during different times of the day or through weather conditions. Also, be sure to take them to different locations for even better practice. 

How to Encourage Driving Safety for First-Time Drivers

We understand that driving can also be scary for parents. There are some ways to help your teen to be safe and avoid future wrecks. Here are some ways to ensure your teen is safe as they are starting their driving journey:

• Set rules and expectations right away.
• Teach your teen to always keep a safe distance when driving behind traffic.
• Set a curfew and have your child avoid driving late at night.
• Limit the amount of passengers in your teens’s car.
• Be an example to your teen when you drive with them. Avoid speeding and always be cautious while driving.

Frequently let your teen drive while you are in the car with them, that way you can help them as they develop safety skills and good driving habits. 

Enroll in Driving School Today!

Getting a driver license for the first time is an exciting journey and we want our students to feel safe and confident on the road. If you are interested in signing your teen up for our classroom courses, classes are generally held at 3:30 PM in room #101. We recommend that you visit the Wright Driving School website for more information on specific dates and requirements. Register your teen today! 

If you are interested in learning more about Paradigm Schools and the purpose of charter schools, then contact our admissions to learn more.