West Georgia Technical College will again offer driver education courses this year – in some cases for free – thanks to grant funding from the Georgia Driver’s Education Commission.

West Georgia Tech’s Joshua’s Law teen driver education courses are offered through the WGTC Community Education Department. Tuition for the course is $375.

The grant from the GDEC allows West Georgia Tech to offer the driver education courses free of charge to local teenagers who meet eligibility requirements.

This year’s courses start Feb. 25 and grant-funded courses will begin March 11 at the Carrollton City Police Department and the WGTC LaGrange East Campus. Courses are scheduled from now until June, and additional dates will be added later in the year as the demand increases. Courses are offered in Carrollton, Douglasville, LaGrange and Waco.

“We are excited that the additional seats provided by GDEC under the existing grant will extend the Joshua’s Law Teen Driver Education program to many more families in our service area,” said WGTC Director of Economic Development Anita Williams. “We’ve had a huge response since the initial funding started in July 2015, and we anticipate that the community will once again take advantage of the funded program. Seats are limited and we encourage local school systems to relay this opportunity to students and their parents.”

In a change from the last time the classes were offered by WGTC, students must now submit a “redemption code” dated before the start date of their class, unless they choose to pay the $375 fee out of pocket. Parents are advised to submit applications for approval at least 30 days prior to the class start date.

Parents or students must apply for the scholarship directly through GDEC and an online application. The application will be available March 1.

To view the application and all details pertaining to the grant process, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org/gdec.

Only Georgia residents between the ages of 15 and 17 with a valid learner’s permit are eligible to receive the driver’s education scholarship. Seating is limited, and the courses are expected to be at full capacity.

To secure a seat in one of WGTC’s upcoming driver’s education classes, parents must register their child online. For a list of available courses, dates, and locations, go to www.westgatech.edu, click on the Community Education button, and then click the box that is labeled “Personal Development Education Center.”

In order to receive a Class D license, an individual is required to attend 30 hours of classroom training and complete six additional hours of drive time with an approved instructor. The requirements were put in place when the Georgia General Assembly passed the Joshua’s Law legislation in 2007.

Most insurance companies reduce premiums by an average of 10 percent upon completion of the course.

“The course helps teenagers learn the rules of the road before getting behind the wheel,” Williams said. “This program has also significantly reduced the total number of crashes involving Georgia teenagers.”

West Georgia Tech is offering nine courses over the next five months.

For more information on the driver’s education classes and scholarship eligibility, call 1-855-209-3640 and select option 1, or email [email protected].