Pupil instruction: driver education and driver training: qualified instructors.

Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district maintaining a high school or high schools, a county superintendent of schools, and the Division of Juvenile Justice, and the State Department of Education in providing programs of high school education, to prescribe regulations determining who can profit by and who shall receive instruction in automobile driver training and prohibits a pupil from being permitted to enroll in automobile driver training unless the pupil is presently enrolled in a course of instruction in automobile driver education, or has satisfactorily completed the course. Existing law requires a course of instruction in automobile driver education to meet specified requirements, including that it is of at least 2½ semester periods and taught by a qualified instructor. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to make allowances to each school district maintaining a high school or high schools, county superintendent of schools, the Division of Juvenile Justice, and the department for the costs of driver education and driver training, as provided. Existing law requires those entities, in applying for state reimbursement for driver education and driver training expenses, to certify that driver education and driver training programs are taught by a qualified instructor. Existing law defines "qualified instructor" as one who has passed an approved driver's instruction examination and holds a designated subjects credential or who holds a valid prior credential authorizing instruction in automobile driver education and driver training. This bill would instead define "qualified instructor" for purposes of these provisions to mean one who has a valid California driver's license and holds a designated subjects credential, a clear or preliminary single subject credential, or a valid prior credential authorizing instruction in automobile driver education and driver training. The bill would also delete obsolete provisions and make various nonsubstantive changes.