SSRC Secondary Science

All Mesa Public Schools' Traffic Safety courses are state approved, meaning the course qualifies as one of the methods that students may use to obtain their Drivers' Licenses under the state's graduated License program. Please refer to the State of Arizona Drivers' Licensing Manual for specific graduated licensing information.

Each program consists of three phases:

I. Classroom Driver Education Course
This course is open to all students who intend to get a driver's license and who will be 15 years and 7 months or older by November 1 for first semester, and April 1 for the second semester (normally the tenth grade).

II. Simulator Instruction
Students have the opportunity to practice driving skills learned as part of the classroom instruction by "driving" a simulator.*
Note: Mesa High School has a comprehensive multi-car traffic safety facility with streetlights and intersections. There is a $15 materials usage fee for all students taking Drivers' Education at Mesa High School.

III. Behind-the-Wheel Drivers' Instruction
This optional component of the traffic safety program is conducted before and after school hours, on the weekends and during vacation days. A minimum of three hours of actual driving and three hours of observation is provided for each student. After a student gets his/her Learner's Permit, he/she is scheduled individually to complete the driving. Scheduling depends on the age of the student. Older students complete this phase first. Some students may need to complete the driving experience shortly after the semester is over. The fee for this portion of the traffic safety program is $150.00 per student. This fee qualifies for the extra-curricular Arizona State tax credit (ECA).

The completion of this course, including the optional behind-the-wheel component, may qualify the student for an insurance premium reduction. Please check with your individual auto insurance carrier for specific requirements. Students must earn a "C" or better in all phases of the program to receive a Certificate of Completion Card upon completion of the course. This certificate serves as proof of satisfactory completion of the traffic safety program for both insurance companies and the Arizona State Department of Motor Vehicles.