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MARQUETTE — The Marquette Area Public School system decided this year to end its high school drivers education program and has removed it from the high school curriculum.
The state had previously covered most of the costs of the program, but as the result of state budget cuts, no longer does. Superintendent Pat Smith told the Mining Journal that “the state has taken all the money out of this.” “If [drivers education] was central to our theme I’d feel different about it. But it’s not.”
The district is currently trying to sell its two drivers education vehicles for $8,000 and $5,000, respectively.
Privatizing drivers education programs will not just remove a burden from taxpayers. It is also likely to lower the overall costs of drivers education, as private companies compete for student business directly.
