For at least the last 40 years, students in Coeur d’Alene could learn to drive at school.

But now, due to a 2024 state law, that’s no longer an option.

House Bill 531 was meant to give families more choice. It allowed students to take an online driver’s education course, then have their parent or guardian supervise the 92 hours of on-the-road training over the course of six months.

Students only qualify for the parent program if they live in a rural area or if their school district doesn’t offer a driver’s ed course.

So Monday evening, the Coeur d’Alene Board of Trustees voted to end their driver’s ed courses in November, so students can learn to drive at home and save money.

Cost of learning to drive

Coeur d’Alene trustees for years directed the district to run the driver’s ed progr

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