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Driver Education

Our Teen Driver Education Program is designed to teach students ages 15 to 17 years. Students will learn the laws and skills needed to obtain first their Learner’s Permit and then their Provisional Driver’s License. They will have both in-person virtual classroom instruction, in-car driving practice with our trained professional driving instructors and our Sewell Tech Auto Mechanics. Before each class, there will be a mandatory orientation meeting. A parent will need to attend that meeting with the student. The student does not need to be present for registration. The registration for each class is listed below with the dates for each class.

The state requires for students attend 32 hours of classroom instruction (16 class days), and 14 hours in the car (7 hrs of observation and 7 hrs behind the wheel).  It is important that students attend class and driving practice without absences. Students may miss only 1 day of classroom instruction. That day must be made up in order for the student to complete the required hours. If more than one day must be missed, the student will need to complete those hours during the next month’s session to receive their Certificate of Completion. (DE-964)

Vehicle Care instruction on the 5th week will educate students on basic mechanical challenges like changing a flat tire, jump starting a battery, and Emergency Preparedness. These skills will be taught at our Sewell Auto Tech facility by our Sewell Auto Tech Mechanic Instructors.

*Tuition due at registration.

In Car Driving Practice is in addition to your class hours. Students will be assigned a driving instructor and schedule during orientation.

Driver Education Schedule 2025

Duration: 5 Weeks

Class Size: 8 Min/24 Max

Cost: $500.00 per student (beginning January 2025)

Curriculum: 32 Instructor Taught Virtual Classroom Hours, 14 In-Car Hours (7 Behind-the-wheel and 7 observation hours), 9 hours of Vehicle Care Instruction.

Available Classes (Odessa only)

2025 SPRING Courses (Evening Hours)

  • January 13, 2025 – February 13, 2025
    • Classroom - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    • In-Car hours will be assigned at orientation. (14 hours)    
    • Mandatory Orientation Day: Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
    • Course Code: 25/Q2 DRE 3000 103
  • March 3, 2025 – April 10, 2025
    • Classroom - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    • In-Car hours will be assigned at orientation. (14 hours)    
    • Mandatory Orientation Day: Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
    • Course Code: 25/Q2 DRE 3000 104
  • April 21, 2025 – May 22, 2025
    • Classroom - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    • In-Car hours will be assigned at orientation. (14 hours)    
    • Mandatory Orientation Day: Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
    • Course Code: 25/Q3 DRE 3000 105

2025 SUMMER Course (Day Hours)

  • June 9, 2025 – July 14, 2025
    • Classroom - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    • In-Car hours will be assigned at orientation. (14 hours)   
    • Mandatory Orientation Day: Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
    • Course Code: 25/Q4 DRE 3000 101

2025 FALL Courses (Evening Hours)

  • July 28, 2025 – September 1, 2025
    • Classroom - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    • In-Car hours will be assigned at orientation. (14 hours)   
    • Mandatory Orientation Day: Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
    • Course Code: 25/Q4 DRE 3000 102
  • September 15, 2025 – October 20, 2025
    • Classroom - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    • In-Car hours will be assigned at orientation. (14 hours)   
    • Mandatory Orientation Day: Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
    • Course Code: 25/Q4 DRE 3000 103 
  • November 3, 2025 – December 15, 2025

  • *No class Nov. 24 – Nov. 27

    • Classroom - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    • In-Car hours will be assigned at orientation. (14 hours)   
    • Mandatory Orientation Day: Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
    • Course Code: 25/Q4 DRE 3000 103  
Registration and Classes are held in:
Gregory Williams Hall2714 Robertson Rd. 
Across University from the main campus.
 
Vehicle Care and Emergency Preparedness Instruction are held in:
Sewel Auto Tech Facility
2425 E 8th St.
Odessa, Tx. 79761
 
Office Hours for August to May 
8am to 5:30 pm Monday through Thursday
8am to 1pm on Fridays
 
Summer Hours (June / July) 
7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Thursday
Closed Fridays  

Parents will need to bring the following to registration:

1) Registration form (link) 2) Student Contract (link) 3) FERPA Release (link)

They will also need to bring a Verification of Enrollment Form, which can be obtained from the attendance office of the student’s school. Or from the ECISD Annex Office on 8th street. Parents will also need to bring the student’s Social Security card. It must be the original Social Security card and not a copy or photo. 

For more information, please contact our office. 432-335-6580 or email conted@odessa.edu

Prospective Students - Start Here:

  • Print and complete the enrollment contract (required for registration).
  • Print and complete the registration form (required for registration).
  • Print and complete the FERPA form (required for registration). 
  • Bring your physical Social Security card
  • Verification of Enrollment from your schools Attendance office

The Teen Driver Education Program gives new drivers the essential tools to meet the challenges of driving with guidance from professional driving instructors as well as classroom instruction. 

Program Overview

Classroom instruction takes place Monday-Thursday along with assigned, mandatory in-car instruction. The program is open to students ages 15 to 17 only. Students must be at least 15 at the time of registration and cannot turn 18 before the course has been completed.

Enrollment

Enrollment is done in-person at the Continuing Education office in Gregory D. Williams Hall. Parents or guardians must bring the social security card of the student and Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form. The student’s social security card must be the actual card, not a copy, and not a letter or receipt. The VOE can be obtained from the attendance office of the school or the administration office. The name on both documents must match exactly.

Attendance

The Driver Education program is composed of 32 classroom hours and 14 driving hours. The state requires that students attend in-class and in-car instruction for a minimum number of hours, allowing for only one absence. That absence must be made up on the designated make-up day. If a student is more than 15 minutes late, it will be counted as an absence. If a student arrives less than 15 minutes late to class, that time must be made up after class. Driving time consists of 7 hours behind the wheel and 7 hours of observation time. Drive time is divided into increments of 30 minutes to an hour. Make-up driving hours are billed at $25.00 per hour and are the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Students who have more than one absence will be responsible for making arrangements with the program coordinator so that they can up those hours during the next available session.  There is no guarantee in the availability of enrollment as it is done on a first come, first served basis. Students will not receive a certificate until all program requirements have been satisfied. Since driving absences affect the student’s driving partner, students are asked to contact the instructor to notify him/her of the absence and arrange an alternate time in accordance with the instructor’s availability.

Cancellation Policy

For any classes or programs cancelled by the college, a full refund will be issued. For withdrawals, 100% of the tuition will be refunded if the drop form is received up to 3 business days prior to the first day of class. No refund is given if the drop form is not received prior to 3 days before the first day of class.

Important Notes for Parents/Guardians

Students will go to DPS at the end of the first week of class to test for their learner’s permit and will only drive in the parking lots on campus until the permit is obtained. Students must have a licensed driver over the age of 21 in the front seat of the vehicle at all times and must not have more than one teenager in the car that is not a sibling. Certificates will be ready 2 weeks after the last day of the course. A parent or guardian must pick up and sign for the certificate. Students may get their provisional license after 6 months or their 16th birthday, whichever comes last. During the 6-month waiting period, students must complete the 30-hour minimum behind-the-wheel drive log. At the end of the 6 months, students will watch a video from Texas Impact Teen Drivers and print out a certificate.

DPS Information:

RESOURCES: