Driver Education

Stillwater Community Education has a partnership with Safeway Driving School to offer a convenient teen driver education program in our schools. All instructors are licensed through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The program is divided into two phases:

Classroom Phase: 30 hours of required classroom instruction that prepares the student to take the Minnesota permit test and to take on the responsibility of driving. After-school classes are offered at Stillwater Area High School. Make-up lessons can be completed in any other Stillwater Community Education class or Safeway classroom session. Students can take class at age 14½ but cannot take their permit test until age 15.

Behind-the-Wheel Phase: After students pass the permit test, they are required to complete six hours of driving lessons. The lessons are provided in three two-hour lessons. Lessons can be scheduled by calling the Safeway office. Lessons can be scheduled online at www.safewaydrivingschool.com

Parent Involvement: It is critical that parents plan to practice regularly with their newly permitted drivers. There is also a bi-monthly Parent Class offered at Safeway’s Stillwater classroom. Safeway strongly encourages all parents to review its Parent Information section at www.safewaydrivingschool.com.

Fee: $434 We have two options for payment:

1) Pay in full up front (includes classroom instruction, materials and behind-the-wheel training). 

2) Or, pay $254 to secure your spot int he classroom portion. Later, $180 is due to Safeway before your student does their behind-the-wheel lessons. The fee for the program includes classroom instruction, materials and behind-the-wheel training. 

Permit and road exam fees are not included. Fee assistance may be available for those who qualify for Educational Benefits (free / reduced lunch) through the local non-profit organization, Youth Advantage. Call the Community Education office at 651-351-8300 for more details.