The Ohio Department of Public Safety in 2024 approved the Fairfield County Educational Service Center (FCESC) to create a driving school to support students in Fairfield County in achieving their driver’s license. The Fairfield County ESC in collaboration with the Fairfield County Workforce Center, Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical schools, have developed and implemented the driver’s education program to meet a need expressed by local districts and employers to support more students aged 15 1/2 and older but under 18 to complete driver’s education as a matter of workforce readiness.

1. Student driver obtains learners permit.

2. Complete the online registration in which you will be required to provide the following: Student Drivers Learner Permit, Completion Certificate for the online/in-class instruction (if previously completed), free/reduced lunch eligibility (if applicable). Note: Hard copy forms can be delivered to Deshawn Toney at the Workforce Center located at 4465 Coonpath Road, Carroll Ohio 43112.

• Items needed to complete form:

  • Learner's permit

  • 24 hour in-class certificate of completion (if previously completed)

  • Free/reduced lunch eligibility letter (if student qualifies)

3. Complete and return forms
Fill out the forms and return them to Deshawn Toney (Workforce Center) via email (deshawn.toney@fairfieldcountyohio.gov). Forms will be emailed to the parent/guardian and student to complete upon submission of the registration form.

4. Determine which program you need:

• Full Driver Education Program (24 hour online course + 8 hour Behind-the-Wheel)

• Drive-Only Program (8 hour Behind-the-Wheel only)

5. Make a payment via the payment link provided by the Workforce Center upon registration. Payment options include: PayPal, Venmo and Debit/Credit cards. Send your digital receipt to deshawn.toney@fairfieldcountyohio.gov to expedite scheduling.

• Full Driver Education: $475.00 (Includes online and behind the wheel)

• Full Driver Education – Free/Reduced Lunch Eligible Students: $225.00

  (includes online and behind the wheel).

• Optional - Utilization of the Drivers Education vehicle for the driver's examination: $90.00 (up to 2 hours and $45.00 for each additional hour.

6. After payment forward your receipt to Deshawn Toney, Deputy Director of Economic Development at deshawn.toney@fairfieldcountyohio.gov. Upon verification, Ms. Toney will communicate with the student driver the link to complete the online component. Students will have up to 6 months to complete the course once they begin Behind the wheel instruction cannot be scheduled until the online in-class instruction has been completed.

7. Complete the online course (if already completed, continue to step 8) Finish the 24-hour online course. A completion certificate will be available within the online platform and you must provide this to Deshawn Toney at deshawn.toney@fairfieldcountyohio.gov.

8. Schedule Behind-the-Wheel training:
The driving instructors, training manager or program leadership will reach out to schedule the behind-the-wheel training for your student driver.
Note: Your driving permit must be valid to schedule in-car driving hours.

9. Complete Behind-the-Wheel training and receive a certificate of completion from the Fairfield County Driving Academy (operating under the direction of TWP Driving Academy). This certificate will be needed for a student to schedule and complete their driving test at the BMV. Finish the required 8 hours of in-car instruction using the Fairfield County Driving Academy’s student driver vehicles.

Questions/Comments:
Reach out to Deshawn Toney at deshawn.toney@fairfieldcountyohio.gov.

Required Forms to be submitted:
Terms and Conditions - Signature is required (All Students)
Behind-the-Wheel Training Agreement (Free/Reduced Price Lunch Eligible Students)
Behind-the-Wheel Training Agreement (Students that DO NOT qualify for free/reduced lunch)
Emergency Medical Form (All Students)

Students and their parent/guardian must download and complete each of the forms. The final question on the registration page will permit you to upload the completed documents. If you are unable to download, print, sign and send back via the registration form, you can send completed forms via email to deshawn.toney@fairfieldcountyohio.gov. For hard copy forms, contact Deshawn Toney (email listed above) to make arrangements to register in person or have forms mailed to your residence.