Welcome to James River High School

Frequently Asked Questions - Licensing Process - DMV Manual - Driving Log - Forms -

The "Behind the Wheel" driver education program has been very successful here at JRHS. Each month approximately 25 - 30 students are taught driver education by a staff of three driver education instructors. Over 290 students successfully complete the program each year.

We understand the students' desire and sometimes need to finish driver education as close to turning 16 and 3 months as possible.

Students can sign up for Behind the Wheel on the first odd/even day of the week at lunch. Mr. Vandell sits out at all of the lunches and signs up students for Behind the Wheel. At that point they can talk with Mr. Vandell and pick which available dates work best for them. We ask that students take into account work schedules, team practice times as well as other commitments into consideration.

Most of the year we stay on a good schedule with students driving on or before they are eligible for their license. We may get behind at the time that the classroom part is completed and all those students become eligible for BTW.

BTW is a seven-day program with seven periods each of driving and observing. It is recommended that the students have some experience driving before starting. The curriculum moves from driving skills in the parking lot on the first day to highway driving near the end. At the first meeting, the student needs to have their learner’s permit and a check for $100.00, two parent permission forms filled out completely.

The information provided here will help you plan all the steps needed to obtain a license. Knowing the proper procedure will help to ensure the students will move through the process efficiently.

Obtaining a Learner's Permit

If the applicant is at least 15 years old, he/she may obtain an instruction permit at a DMV customer service center.
Complete the Virginia Driver's License application form (DL1A); This may be obtained at the DMV. A parent or guardian must sign the application.
Provide proof of social security number.
Provide an original identification certifying name and date of birth.
Furnish proof of residency.
Present certification of enrollment in school. (Available in the guidance office).
Pass the written test. 10 sign questions 100% Correct and 80% on the general knowledge portion (Books to study for the test are available at the DMV or from driver's education teachers. If you don't pass the test, you must wait 15 days before taking it again).

How to Sign Up for Classroom Driver's Education

Classroom driver education is given as a part of the 10th grade health and physical education class. This class is scheduled by guidance into the student's schedule. The student will receive a grade for 10th grade HPE and a separate grade for driver education. The student must have a passing grade in driver education in order to take Behind The Wheel.

Behind The Wheel

Once the student has taken classroom driver's education he/she may sign up for BTW.
Fill out a grading form. (These forms are available from the driver education teachers or the main office). Have the classroom driver education fill in grade and initial.
Fill out a white information form. (These are also available from teachers or the main office).
Make a copy of the learner's permit.
Staple the three pages together (white information sheet on top) and give this to the main office to be put in Mr. Power's mailbox.
The student forms are put in order of the birth date. The BTW teacher will contact the student to let he/she when he/she will drive.
At the first meeting, present your learners permit and a check for $100 made out to JRHS.

Obtaining A License

The student must successfully complete the driver education program.
The student must successfully complete the Behind The Wheel driver education. The school will then issue the student a driver education certificate-authorization card (DEC-A).
The student must have a learners permit for at least six months before obtaining a license.
When the student turns sixteen years old, the DEC-A in combination with his/her learners permit is used as a temporary driver's license.
Within 90 days of receiving the DEC-A, the local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will notify the student by mail to appear before the judge in order to receive his her permanent license.


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Driver's Education	Faculty 9th Grade 10th Grade Advanced P.E. Special P.E. Driver Ed.
Frequently Asked Questions - Licensing Process - DMV Manual - Driving Log - Forms - The "Behind the Wheel" driver education program has been very successful here at JRHS. Each month approximately 25 - 30 students are taught driver education by a staff of three driver education instructors. Over 290 students successfully complete the program each year. We understand the students' desire and sometimes need to finish driver education as close to turning 16 and 3 months as possible. Students can sign up for Behind the Wheel on the first odd/even day of the week at lunch. Mr. Vandell sits out at all of the lunches and signs up students for Behind the Wheel. At that point they can talk with Mr. Vandell and pick which available dates work best for them. We ask that students take into account work schedules, team practice times as well as other commitments into consideration. Most of the year we stay on a good schedule with students driving on or before they are eligible for their license. We may get behind at the time that the classroom part is completed and all those students become eligible for BTW. BTW is a seven-day program with seven periods each of driving and observing. It is recommended that the students have some experience driving before starting. The curriculum moves from driving skills in the parking lot on the first day to highway driving near the end. At the first meeting, the student needs to have their learner’s permit and a check for $100.00, two parent permission forms filled out completely. The information provided here will help you plan all the steps needed to obtain a license. Knowing the proper procedure will help to ensure the students will move through the process efficiently. Obtaining a Learner's Permit If the applicant is at least 15 years old, he/she may obtain an instruction permit at a DMV customer service center. Complete the Virginia Driver's License application form (DL1A); This may be obtained at the DMV. A parent or guardian must sign the application. Provide proof of social security number. Provide an original identification certifying name and date of birth. Furnish proof of residency. Present certification of enrollment in school. (Available in the guidance office). Pass the written test. 10 sign questions 100% Correct and 80% on the general knowledge portion (Books to study for the test are available at the DMV or from driver's education teachers. If you don't pass the test, you must wait 15 days before taking it again). How to Sign Up for Classroom Driver's Education Classroom driver education is given as a part of the 10th grade health and physical education class. This class is scheduled by guidance into the student's schedule. The student will receive a grade for 10th grade HPE and a separate grade for driver education. The student must have a passing grade in driver education in order to take Behind The Wheel. Behind The Wheel Once the student has taken classroom driver's education he/she may sign up for BTW. Fill out a grading form. (These forms are available from the driver education teachers or the main office). Have the classroom driver education fill in grade and initial. Fill out a white information form. (These are also available from teachers or the main office). Make a copy of the learner's permit. Staple the three pages together (white information sheet on top) and give this to the main office to be put in Mr. Power's mailbox. The student forms are put in order of the birth date. The BTW teacher will contact the student to let he/she when he/she will drive. At the first meeting, present your learners permit and a check for $100 made out to JRHS. Obtaining A License The student must successfully complete the driver education program. The student must successfully complete the Behind The Wheel driver education. The school will then issue the student a driver education certificate-authorization card (DEC-A). The student must have a learners permit for at least six months before obtaining a license. When the student turns sixteen years old, the DEC-A in combination with his/her learners permit is used as a temporary driver's license. Within 90 days of receiving the DEC-A, the local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will notify the student by mail to appear before the judge in order to receive his her permanent license.