Driver’s Education Backlog In NC: State Leaders Blame Cost Of Services

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In an ongoing investigation into the years-long backlog of North Carolina’s driver’s education services, state leaders are blaming its costs.

As reported by WRAL , driver’s ed coordinators spoke out during the State Board of Education meeting Tuesday morning. They say that departments are short-staffed, and hiring these instructors are becoming more expensive.

Meanwhile, costs are also going up to purchase and maintain cars for students to use for these programs. The programs are currently serving more students than they’re budgeting for.

As it stands, there’s currently a 3-5 month wait time for hands-on instruction in Wake Schools.

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A director for the North Carolina Parent Teacher Association also spoke during the meeting, saying that the issue is especially hard on rural families. These communities usually have the longest drives and little public transit as an alternative.

All of this is causing a lot of frustration for the students and their families trying to get into driver’s ed.

“It’s really annoying honestly, because I’ve been waiting so long,” said student Carlee Haas, who spent hours traveling to four different DMV locations on Monday to clear this up. “I’m already past the deadline to get it on my actual birthday, when I turn 16, so it’s kind of annoying.”

WRAL also spoke with Athens Drive High School student Adelaide Anderson, who waited in line at the DMV for hours. She’s been trying to earn her permit for weeks, having traveled to three different locations with equally long lines.

Anderson tells WRAL that some students at her school gave up on the process entirely. “Some of them from my school, they wait until they’re 18 to get their driver’s license, because it takes too long,” she said.

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