The Next Step

So, I asked Susan, who's in charge of the curriculum, how to add something to the curriculum. In order to get my class taught here, it would have to be added to the curriculum and scheduled in. Basically, it has to chewed up and spit out by the system. I have to write an outline of the class, telling everything about it, and answer almost every question that someone might have about it. Susan would then take my outline, which would also be my proposal, to the board and they would debate it. I think if I can make my project coherent, I have a pretty good chance. Let's get started!

While You Were Away...

So over the break, Rep. Walle's office contacted me back, as did the other people I had asked to be on my panel. Everyone said yes, so the green light has been lit, but Rep. Walle also sent me some information that my sources didn't have. It's great to be in contact with someone in the system. Here is the law that I was emailed.

Sec. 1001.353. DRIVER TRAINING COURSE AT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL.

A driver training school may conduct a driver training course at a public or private school for students of the public or private school as provided by an agreement with the public or private school. The course is subject to any law applicable to a course conducted at the main business location of the driver training school.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 6.012(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

§176.1003. Driver Education School Licensure.

(k) Contract site. A school shall receive approval from TEA prior to conducting a class at a contract site, and approval may be granted by TEA upon review of the agreement made between the licensed driver education school and the contract site. The course shall be subject to the same rules that apply at the licensed driver education school, including periodic inspections by TEA representatives. An on-site inspection is not required prior to approval of the course.

The office was also gracious enough to send me some links to the Texas Driver Statute and to the Rules about teaching Driver's Ed. This thing could really work, and I also apologize for misleading y'all with my earlier posts, but if it helps, I was just as misled. Till next time, y'all!

My Sentence

My sentence would look something like this:

He brought a Driver's Ed program to a school that needed it, and started a revolution in the way people relate college preparatory and Driver's Ed.

(Not) Final Post: Where Am I?

So this is the final blog. I don’t mean final as in last, but instead final as in “this is my Senior Seminar Final.” I haven’t needed any more information on the classes and the state laws, so the next thing for me to tackle is the logistics. Specifically, I mean the cost and the legislature. I plan on my panel members helping me with that aspect. I plan on inviting Dr. Ray Griffin, because he has actually done this kind of thing before. He has started a Driver’s Ed program at another private school, so he has the perfect amount of experience. He’s also very good at scoring grants for the school, so he can tell me how to do it. Another panel member that I want to invite is Board of Trustees President Leon Payne. He has expressed interest in my project, and that really excites me. One member that is kind of on the fence is the state representative for my district, Armando Walle. He is in the state legislature and I believe he could really help me with the larger picture. However, he hasn’t contacted me back except for just one email so I don’t have my hopes up for him. I would also like to invite Brian Lamore. While he taught at Chinquapin, he was a genius at getting grants. I believe that his advice, coupled with Dr. Griffin’s advice, will be invaluable. Over the break, I will really have to convince Rep. Walle to join my review panel. Also, Brian Lamore has been rather quiet, so I will have to send the feelers out towards him. By January, I should be able to start applying for grants, with Dr. Griffin and Brian’s assistance. With Rep. Walle’s guidance, I can see the best way to tackle the legislature that restricts schools like mine. Mr. Payne is a valuable source of my project’s real-world application, without the influence of politics or anything like that. We’ll get things done, people.

Info You Should Know

I named the blog this because it's late (actual time: 11:55), I'm a little sleepy, I'm writing my speech, and you guys don't quite know exactly what I'm up against here. I was reading comments on my blogs. To Tito and Lorena's blogs, I say this: there is no text that follows the requirements that the DMV of Texas has. This, also, can be found on the links that I posted last time. To Susan's blogs, I say this: You actually help me blog more. The questions you ask help me inform people that haven't been reading as much as I have. To Elber's post, I say this: I plan on appealing to Dr. Griffin and the people who handle the green around here. Aside from that, the small matter of ten grand shouldn't be too hard to get. There are foundations that give money to places like us for things like this. However, none of this is going to be easy. The Man is trying to keep me down, but I must fight the power. One boy versus the system is the name of the game.

More Recent Developments

Due to a consensus of opinion, (read as: Susan) I have to tell you my sources. Although I used to say that if I told you, I'd have to kill you, this is a grade. I looked up two different sites. There was one that gave me information about teenagers receiving licenses, and another website that gave me information about starting a school for driver's ed. They were very helpful, because the Texas Education Agency knows all about that stuff. Until next time!

Recent Developments

People, I'm not going to lie to you. It's going to be difficult. I extensively researched Driver's Ed. laws in Texas, and here's what I found:
1) There is a law requiring 34 hours of Driver's Ed. to get a license
2) Driver's Ed. can be taught at a public high school or at a licensed Drivers' Ed. school
3) There are classes one has to take to be an Driver's Ed. Instructor (6 semester hours of driver and traffic safety education courses
4) It costs $75 to get a Texas Driver Education Instructor license
5) There are school application fees of $1030, a $10000 corporate surety bond which is required for each primary driver education school, and a $5000 bond which is required for each branch
Yes. It's not going to be easy. I think I'll deserve points for trying, though!